NBA trade rumors: Magic gauging market for Aaron Gordon before deadline

Nick Birdsong

NBA trade rumors: Magic gauging market for Aaron Gordon before deadline image

Few things are going right for the Magic this season. 

The franchise, which hasn't made the playoffs since its 2011-12 campaign, has one of the league's worst records at 15-35 and has dropped four of its last five games as it prepares to take on the Wizards on Saturday night. 

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That means no one's job is safe. The Athletic's Michael Scotto reported the Magic could be shopping Aaron Gordon, their leading scorer and second-leading rebounder, on the trade market. The 22-year-old is in the midst of his finest season as a pro, averaging 18.4 points and 8.3 rebounds per game while shooting a career-high 34.6 percent from 3-point range. 

According to The Athletic: 

"The new regime of Jeff Weltman and John Hammond has left no stone unturned with the deadline approaching, including quietly gauging the trade market on Aaron Gordon, league sources told The Athletic.

Gordon is eligible for restricted free agency this summer, so Orlando could simply be doing due diligence."

The Magic selected the 6-9, 220-pound Arizona product with the fourth overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft. A broken foot caused him to miss 32 games as a rookie in 2014-15. He played 78 games, starting 37, the next season and became a full-time starter in 2016-17. 

He's missed the Magic's last two games, a 114-107 loss against the Rockets on Tuesday and a 127-105 victory against the Lakers on Wednesday, with a hip injury. He's currently listed as day-to-day. 

Nick Birdsong