The Portland Trail Blazers just made one of the weirdest trades in recent memory, and that’s saying something for a franchise that has never been shy about rosters that don’t quite fit together. They sent Jerami Grant and Kris Murray to Memphis for Ja Morant, which is a lot of talent added to a backcourt that already had Damian Lillard, Jrue Holiday, and Scoot Henderson. You don’t need a calculator to see that math doesn’t work.
The speculation right away was that Portland was clearing the deck to go after Jaylen Brown. That would make some sense. Brown is the kind of two-way wing who could slot in next to Lillard and not bleed points on defense. But the Celtics don’t seem desperate to move him, and the Nuggets are lurking with a package built around Jamal Murray that might actually appeal to Boston more than anything the Blazers can offer. Denver wants Brown bad, and they have the veteran star power to make it happen.
So if Brown is out of reach, and it sure looks like he could be, the Blazers need a different plan. That plan should be Aaron Gordon.
Why Aaron Gordon fits the Blazers better than you think
The Nuggets are open for business after a first-round exit to the Timberwolves last spring. Only Nikola Jokic is untouchable. That means Gordon is available, and the asking price might not be as crazy as you’d expect for a guy who helped Denver win a title. Gordon turns 31 this season, played only 36 regular-season games last year, and missed three playoff games. The injury history is real. The Nuggets have Peyton Watson ready to step in, and they need to get younger and healthier around Jokic.
But for Portland, Gordon solves a specific problem. The Blazers are about to run a backcourt of Lillard and Morant, which is two guys who need the ball and don’t exactly scare anyone defensively. They need wings who can guard, rebound, and not demand touches to stay engaged. Gordon is perfect for that. He shot 37 percent from three in his first two seasons with the Nuggets. He can defend three positions. He doesn’t pout when he doesn’t get the ball.
A package centered on Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe might get it done. Henderson is 22, still on his rookie deal, and has never really gotten a fair shot as the primary option. The Blazers have cycled through Simons, Holiday, and now Morant ahead of him. Denver could use a young ballhandler with upside. Sharpe is a lottery ticket with athleticism that jumps off the screen. That’s a real offer for a guy with three years and $103 million left on his deal who can’t stay on the court.
The risk is obvious. The upside is real.
Gordon’s contract is ugly if his body keeps breaking down. But Portland is in a weird spot where they have too many guards and not enough connective tissue. They need guys who make everyone around them better without needing the ball. Gordon does that. He’s not flashy. He’s not going to average 20 points. But he’s the kind of player who makes a messy roster look coherent.
A lineup of Lillard, Avdija, Camara, Gordon, and Clingan with Morant and Holiday off the bench is weird but potentially dangerous. It has size, defense, and enough shooting to function. It’s not a title team yet, but it’s closer to one than the current pile of point guards.
Portland has to do something. They can’t just run three starting-caliber point guards into the ground and hope nobody notices. Gordon isn’t the splashy name. But he might be the right one.
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