The Orlando Magic are "quietly gauging interest" in soon to be restricted free agent forward Aaron..."/> The Orlando Magic are "quietly gauging interest" in soon to be restricted free agent forward Aaron..."/>
Valley of the Suns
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Suns should make an offer for Aaron Gordon?

By Khaleel Abdullah

ORLANDO, FL - NOVEMBER 23: Aaron Gordon #00 of the Orlando Magic shoots a lay up during the game against the Phoenix Suns on November 23, 2016 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida Or. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - NOVEMBER 23: Aaron Gordon #00 of the Orlando Magic shoots a lay up during the game against the Phoenix Suns on November 23, 2016 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida Or. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Orlando Magic are “quietly gauging interest” in soon to be restricted free agent forward Aaron Gordon. The Phoenix Suns need to step up with their best offer.

With the fourth overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, the Orlando Magic selected Aaron Gordon from the University of Arizona. He has improved every season since, inserted himself into the starting lineup, and not just shown immense potential but has come close to star-level status.

However, the new regime of Jeff Weltman and John Hammond in Orlando has made no player off limits, including Gordon.

Standing at 6’ 9″ and weighing in at 220 pounds with freaky athleticism and a vertical that defies gravity, along with a trusty 3-point shot, he is the very definition of today’s power forward. A position where the Suns have two promising youths in Marquese Chriss and Dragan Bender. He is what Phoenix dreams Chriss can become and only two years older, which age-wise fits perfectly in the desert. As I’ve stated before, potential can’t be overlooked but you also can’t pass up a sure thing.

Aaron Gordon is a sure thing.

Phoenix Suns
Phoenix Suns /

Phoenix Suns

Aside from age, the other factor that sets Aaron apart from other big names that have become available prior to the trade deadline, is his contract. He isn’t locked up long term yet but the Suns have the right to match any offer this summer so he isn’t going any where. If Phoenix trades for him, he will be here for at least the next 4-5 years.

Gordon had a down month in January with a 35-20-62 shooting line and only 0.2 blocks per game, yet he maintained a solid 17.3 points and 9.4 rebounds. He is in a breakout campaign with a 45-35-72 shooting line along with 18.4 points, 8.3 rebounds and 0.7 blocks. That is a huge upgrade at the PF position to what the Suns currently have, and only shows a glimpse of what he is capable of.

There are only seven players in the league averaging more points AND  rebounds than him this season. Take out Russell Westbrook as he is a guard and DeMarcus Cousins who recently suffered a season-ending injury, and there are only five. Those studs are Giannis Antetokounmpo, Anthony Davis, Joel Embiid, LaMarcus Aldridge and Karl-Anthony Towns. That is great company and in fact All-Star  company as all of the above mentioned will be in this year’s game.

In addition to his highlight reel dunks which have him the Slam Dunk Contest for the third consecutive year, as well as his scoring and rebounding that have him in All-Star company, Aaron Gordon has career-highs that show an all around game. These are game highs of 41 points, 16 rebounds, 7 assists, 6 steals and 4 blocks.

At first glance, one is not impressed by his defensive stats like his shot blocking with his size and athleticism. However, I like to use my own special stat known to me as the 25% rule. This is where you take the total amount of games a young player has played in his career and take 25% of that and look at the most of one stat said player accumulated. For this example, he has played 244 games so you take 61 games. Any way, that gives him a potential of averaging about 1.6 swats per night which is not bad at all.

Another note that can’t be left out is the fact that he played college ball in Arizona and would be a fan favorite along with Devin Booker.

After looking at all sides of the spectrum, there is no doubt that Aaron Gordon would be a perfect fit here. Some may say he would help win enough games to hurt the team’s chances of a top-five draft pick. There is a way to temporarily play around that. After the front office brings him in they need to sit down and talk to him. First, about how ecstatic they are to have him on board, have full intentions of signing him long-term to a rich deal and guarantee him the starting spot. Second, how they plan on giving him limited minutes for the rest of this season so he can get acclimated to a new team, so they can get that top-5 pick and how they fully plan on coming out swinging next year.

I’m sure he would understand and be game.

So the next step is what it would take to land him in a trade.

PHOENIX sends Marquese Chriss and Orlando’s choice of two 1st round picks (excluding the Suns’ 2018 1st rounder)

ORLANDO sends Aaron Gordon

Next: Greg Monroe has been bought out. What’s next?

Marquese Chriss has a similar game to Gordon and tons of potential which is a starting selling point. The addition of not one but two 1st round picks should seal the deal.

A starting lineup with Devin Booker, Josh Jackson, T.J. Warren, Aaron Gordon and Tyson Chandler would be something else. Add to that either Trae Young, Luka Doncic or DeAndre Ayton, and now  you’ve got a very special team.

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