The Golden State Warriors are going to be active over the next few days, looking to improve their roster. Bogdan Bogdanovic and Aaron Gordon are two players they’ve been linked to ahead of the March 25 deadline.
For the Dubs, Aaron Gordon feels like the most realistic target, but it would more than likely draw an end to the Andrew Wiggins era if he is brought in. Wiggins and Gordon both play the three, and with Green at the four, there’s no reason to keep too much talent at small forward.
The Golden State Warriors are set to have a busy next few days, and Orlando’s Aaron Gordon may be the team’s most realistic trade target.
With several teams clearly outside of playoff contention and the Warriors on the brink of being a playoff-contending team in a difficult Western Conference, the sellers will be out and about prior to the 2021 NBA Trade Deadline.
One seller could be the Orlando Magic. The Magic have a solid roster led by Evan Fournier and Nikola Vucevic, but they just aren’t among the top-tier teams. They did, however, make the postseason last season.
With an up-and-coming roster and the core veterans in place, the Warriors can shed players that may not be in their long-term plan. Small forward and former top-five pick Aaron Gordon falls into that conversation.
Gordon is averaging 14.7 points per game, and while that’s up from a season ago, it’s the second-lowest average in the last four years. Gordon’s not still at his peak as the Magic have brought in a slew of young talent.
But, he is becoming a much better playmaker and is averaging a career-high 4.2 assists per game. That should be something that comes across as a positive despite his scoring being on the lower end.
That said, the Warriors really can only afford to bring in Gordon if they trade Andrew Wiggins away. Gordon owed just over $18 million this season and about $16.4 million next season. That would price them out of Gordon’s market without a big-name player being sent back.
Along those lines, with Wiggins at the same position, it only makes sense for them to shed some talent at the three. The Warriors would do this if the team feels that Gordon’s playmaking and shooting would be that much of a better fit than Wiggins.
While his playmaking is better, I’m not sure the deal would be worth it for Golden State if they have to add in a first-round pick. Wiggins has played well, but then again, we’d have to see what deal they can pull off to bring in the seven-year veteran.
Gordon’s time in Orlando is all but over. Unless the Warriors make a move that many won’t expect, it doesn’t seem likely they’ll bring in Gordon despite their interest in the forward.