Nuggets Win Magic Trade After Finals Berth?
ORLANDO - It's been just over two years since the Orlando Magic traded Aaron Gordon in a blockbuster deal to the Denver Nuggets.
The Nuggets are certainly happy with how that trade has worked for them, and their happiness was validated after the team reached its first NBA Finals in franchise history ... with Gordon starting all 15 games in the postseason push.
Even though the Nuggets haven't won the championship yet, is it safe to say they won the Gordon trade?
The deal sent Gordon, along with Gary Clark, to the Nuggets for Gary Harris, R.J. Hampton and a 2025 protected first-round pick.
While the Nuggets haven't won a title yet, Denver is certainly coming out of this deal with a win-win scenario at worst. Gordon has proven to be the ideal partner in the frontcourt next to Nikola Jokic and has taken the Nuggets to new heights.
The Magic shouldn't be complaining about its end of the deal though. Even though Hampton never realized his full potential with the Magic, Harris has proven to be a strong veteran presence and was a key starter last season. Orlando also has a future first-round pick it can use to draft another talented player or trade in another deal to get better sooner.
Also, trading Gordon opened up a spot at power forward, which Paolo Banchero now occupies. Banchero has a higher ceiling than Gordon, and puts the Magic in a better position at this point in time.
A trade should be considered a win if a team gets better and finds itself in a better position as a result of the trade ... and the Nuggets and Magic can both say that.
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