Charlotte Hornets

Charlotte Hornets Receive: F Aaron Gordon, ORL 2024 2nd Round Pick

Orlando Magic Receive: C Cody Zeller, G Malik Monk, CHA 2022 1st Round Pick

Now in his 7th season in the NBA, Aaron Gordon has always been a very athletic big man, but the questions around his future in Orlando have been swirling since this past offseason. He is under contract through next season until he is set to become a free agent, but with his recent lack of production, could the Magic look to trade the former 4th overall pick?

Gordon has missed the last few weeks with a sprained ankle, but in 19 games with Orlando this year, he is averaging 13.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists and is shooting 36.9% from three-point range. The advances he has made in his perimeter and passing game has made Gordon an intriguing trade target for many teams, but his $18.1M salary for this season makes things a little difficult for teams like the Hornets to trade for him. 

Cody Zeller and Malik Monk have been two key role players for the Hornets this year, but Gordon’s impact on this team could be vast. They could really use another frontcourt/wing option and the versatility Gordon would bring to this roster would be enough to push them into the playoffs. 

Not only could they be a fast-paced, up-tempo team, but the Hornets could wind up leading the NBA in fastbreak points at some point with Gordon in the frontcourt. With him being one of the better athletic forwards in the league, the Hornets’ offense would be very versatile and they could play a brand of “positionless” basketball at times. 

With Cody Zeller in the final year of his contract and with virtually no depth behind P.J. Washington at power-forward, this move to trade for Aaron Gordon makes a lot of sense and could be the extra little bit of talent they need in order to finally make it back to the playoffs.

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Orlando is in no position to compete if they were to make the playoffs and they could free up a lot of cap space moving forward by trading away Aaron Gordon now. Malik Monk has emerged as a high-potential, young player and for a team that is facing a rebuild, getting a 2022 first-round pick makes a lot of sense. 

Both teams make out pretty well in this trade and for the Hornets, getting a combo-forward like Gordon allows them to be a fast-paced, attacking team on the offensive-end of the court.