Report: Warriors not among top suitors for Magic's Gordon

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Orlando Magic forward Aaron Gordon reportedly has a growing list of suitors as the Thursday 12 p.m. PT NBA trade deadline approaches, but the Warriors don’t appear to be in the running.

Matt Moore of Action Network reported that the Boston Celtics have become the frontrunner to acquire Gordon, citing sources.

“While the framework of a deal [with Boston] is in active discussion and considered the leading offer, sources say no deal has been agreed upon and the Magic are expected to continue to take offers up until Thursday’s deadline,” Moore wrote. “The list of suitors for Gordon has increased in recent days, with the Nuggets, Blazers and Mavericks, along with long-time suitor the Houston Rockets, who had targeted Gordon in three-way conversations during the James Harden trade talks.”

Gordon reportedly has asked for a trade out of Orlando, so the writing is on the wall -- his tenure of six-plus seasons with the Magic likely is coming to an end. Earlier this week, the Warriors were listed among teams who reportedly had "talks" with the Magic regarding Gordon.

The high-flying 25-year-old is averaging 14.7 points, 6.8 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game this season, while shooting 44.2 percent from the field and a career-best 40.2 from 3-point range. He’s an explosive 6-foot-8, 235-pound athlete who has shown the ability to turn up his defense at times.

But what will be the price tag? According to Moore, both the Celtics and Rockets have made pitches centered around sending the Magic two first-round picks.

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The Warriors are sitting on two first-rounders for the 2021 NBA Draft, including a top-three protected pick from the Minnesota Timberwolves via the D’Angelo Russell-Andrew Wiggins trade. Minnesota (10-33) is currently dead last in the NBA, so if its ping pong ball results in a top-three pick on lottery night, the compensation will become an unprotected 2022 first-rounder for the Warriors.

Gordon is good, but probably won’t put the Warriors over the top and make them a contender this season when they need to learn on the fly. He’s signed through the end of next season, but he’s probably not worth mortgaging two first-round picks, especially one as valuable as the T-Wolves’, which the Magic ostensibly would desire in return.

Golden State might have put in an exploratory phone call, but it doesn’t sound like Gordon is a good fit at this time, especially with eager suitors around the league.

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