Pros and cons of Cavs trading Nuggets for Aaron Gordon

Pros of Cavs trading Nuggets for Aaron Gordon

Aaron Gordon version 2.0 is a dynamic defensive player, able to lock up wings and forwards 1-on-1 but also lithe enough to fight over screens. In help defense he has length and good instincts to disrupt passing lanes, and he is a competent weakside shot blocker. In short he is a highly versatile defender able to guard multiple positions, and his presence on the Cavs would absolutely boost their already prodigious defense and give them the nastiest defensive frontcourt in the league.

Gordon has played eight seasons in the league, including three trips to the playoffs, so he brings real NBA experience. That being said, he is still just 26 years old, plenty young enough to grow with this young core. The Cavs would be getting a player at the front end of his prime to help this team contend.

Last season Gordon hit 52 percent of his shots from the field, taking 70 percent of his shots at the rim and shooting a strong percentage on those shots. A gifted finisher in part due to his athleticism, Gordon benefited from the defensive rotations caused by Nikola Jokic and his passing; while Darius Garland is certainly not on the same level as the two-time MVP, Gordon would continue playing with a strong passer capable of getting him the ball in advantage situations.

Gordon will make $19.7 million next season as he begins his extension, one that will pay him around $87 million over the next four seasons. That’s a fair number for a versatile player like Gordon and would give the Cavs some roster certainty as they try to build something sustaining in the Eastern Conference.