Trade talk surrounds Arizona product Aaron Gordon as Magic host Suns
Mar 24, 2021, 8:18 AM
The Phoenix Suns and the Orlando Magic each play their second night of a back-to-back Wednesday against one another.
The Suns have at least one thing going for them.
They on Tuesday rested their starting backcourt of Chris Paul and Devin Booker down the stretch. Each played 27 minutes in a 110-100 win over the Miami Heat.
Another obvious advantage? Orlando is reeling having lost 11 of its last 12 games.
One of the Magic’s best players, Arizona Wildcat product Aaron Gordon, enters Wednesday on the trade block and prepared to play his last game in a Magic uniform.
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The NBA trade deadline is Thursday, and after a Tuesday loss to the Denver Nuggets, Gordon for the first time acknowledged his request to be traded.
“There’s been times where I’ve expressed my frustration to management, frustration with the losses, the injuries, the way we’ve been playing, how we’ve been playing and how many losses we’ve accumulated throughout the years,” Gordon told reporters.
“It’s kind of my frustration boiling over, I’d say. I think a lot of people share that sentiment with me, of frustration.”
The fourth overall pick in the 2014 draft has spent his entire career with the Magic after playing one year in college, helping the Wildcats make an Elite Eight run (current Suns forward Frank Kaminsky scored 28 points for Wisconsin in that Elite Eight to deny Arizona a Final Four berth).
This year, Gordon is averaging 14.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.3 assists.
He is even knocking down 39% of his threes, which if it stands would be a career-high.
But it’s Gordon’s athleticism and playmaking abilities from the power forward spot that has playoff contenders making pushes to trade for him.
The Boston Celtics and Denver Nuggets are two known teams interested in acquiring Gordon, reports The Athletic. Additionally, ESPN reports the Houston Rockets have shown interest in Gordon.
As it stands, Gordon will be available for the Magic Wednesday unless the Magic strike a deal a day prior to the trade deadline.
That said, Gordon admitted the process of requesting to be moved has worn on him.
“I’m focused on tomorrow night. As of right now I’m an Orlando Magic,” Gordon said Tuesday. “I’ve been here for seven years and developed a home here and a sense of love and community here. As long as I have Orlando on my chest, Magic on my chest, I’m going to give everything I have so I’m focused on Phoenix tomorrow and getting that win.
“This is a part of the reason why I take mental health so seriously. … Practicing mental health, prayers, meditations, breathing exercises, because it’s a lot. You don’t really know where you’re going to end up in the next two to three days. It’s a lot to handle but I’m prepared for it. It’s what makes the sport great in a sense.”
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