Aaron Gordon
If the Warriors land the No. 1 overall pick in a draft that doesn’t have much surefire superstar talent, they should trade it. Who would be worthy of that though? One player that could be considered is Orlando forward Aaron Gordon.
This would, by far, be the most notable target of the eight that we’ve gone over, but it would also put the Warriors on the brink of being title as favorites. Gordon, in his fourth season with the Magic, averaged 17.6 points per game. He averaged 2.0 threes per game.
As Orlando improved, Gordon’s ability to score in bulk dwindled, but even this season he was still putting up 14.4 points. Able to play both forward roles, Gordon’s athleticism on defense end would also give another skill the Warriors crave.
Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley did note that Golden State would need to acquire another player their trade exception to then use that player to flip for Gordon so that the finances would align as Gordon is set to make just over $18.1 million for the 2020-2021 season.
It’s a long shot, but Gordon’s contract goes down to just $16.4 million the following year so there is some hope they could keep him for the long-term future. Helping build with their 2021 first-round pick, Gordon would be an ideal bridge to the next generation of Warriors basketball.
All of these players would make great options, and while some are pricier than others, each would bring a unique attribute to the Bay Area if the Warriors opted to pursue them this offseason.