NBA Rumors: Aaron Gordon Is Potential Target for Pacers in Free Agency
The Indiana Pacers will reportedly target Orlando Magic power forward Aaron Gordon in restricted free agency, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN:
Outside of perhaps only Houston Rockets center Clint Capela, Gordon is expected to be the top restricted free agent on the market this offseason. The Magic, however, will likely match any offer made to the 22-year-old budding star.
Gordon took major strides in the 2017-18 season, averaging career highs in points (17.6 PPG), rebounding (7.9 RPG), assists (2.3 APG) and three-point shooting (33.6 percent). Injuries limited him to 58 games, however.
As for his next move, Gordon wants a max deal and he wants it in Orlando, as he indicated as far back as April, per Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel:
Gordon has remained consistent in that regard.
"Yeah definitely, but we'll see how it goes," he said when asked if still wants a max contract with Orlando on Tuesday, per Ian Begley of ESPN.com. "Whatever Orlando wants to do. As a restricted free agent, I completely trust (management)."
"Hopefully we just get it wrapped up with Orlando," he added. "That would be fantastic,"
Orlando can offer Gordon a five-year deal worth $148 million, while other teams can only offer four years. And the Magic seem inclined to keep Gordon, as the team's president of basketball operations, Jeff Weltman, told Robbins:
"We've worked hard to establish a relationship with Aaron and learn him and he learn us. And, obviously, a big part of this is just having relationships with his representatives and just having discussions with him as we move forward and start to see if there's a middle ground that we can reach and strike a deal. And we're hopeful that we can do that."
Seeking a "middle ground" isn't the sort of language a team uses when it's willing to offer a max contract. But the Magic have the benefit of matching any deal, meaning they can allow Gordon to get an offer sheet in restricted free agency and simply retain him at that cost.
That, for now, appears to be the team's likely approach.
