Series of frustrations led to trade request: Gordon
Aaron Gordon scored 13 points and had six assists in Tuesday’s 110-99 loss to the Denver Nuggets in what could be one of his last games with the Orlando Magic.
The 25-year-old forward has asked for a trade and the Magic could be close to moving him. A number of teams including the Warriors, Celtics, Nuggets, Rockets, Timberwolves and Trail Blazers reportedly are interested in acquiring Gordon.
The Celtics reportedly have emerged as the front-runners to land Gordon.
Gordon said his trade request was the result of frustration.
“There’s been times where I just expressed my frustration to management and the frustration with the losses, the injuries, the way we’ve been playing, how we’ve been playing and how many losses have accumulated over the years,” Gordon said. “So it’s just my frustration kind of boiling over, I would say. I think a lot of people share that sentiment with me, a lot of frustration.”
When asked if he still is hoping for a trade by Thursday’s NBA trade deadline, Gordon deferred.
“I’m focused on tomorrow night,” he said, referring to the Magic’s game against the Suns. “As of right now, I’m an Orlando Magic, and I’ve been here for seven years and developed a home here and a sense of love and community here. So as long as I have Orlando on my chest, the Magic on my chest, I’m going to give it everything I have. So I’m focused on Phoenix tomorrow and getting that win.”
Shooting guard Evan Fournier, who has been Gordon’s teammate in Orlando since the two joined the team in 2014, said Gordon’s trade request has not been a distraction. Fournier, who himself reportedly is being sought after in the trade market, prefers that Gordon remain with the Magic, but he’s prepared to accept whatever decisions are made.
“I feel like with each other there’s nothing but love and respect,” Fournier said. “Aaron and I, it’s been, what, six years? So whatever happens to Aaron, I’m going to be cool with it. I hope he stays, obviously. … There is no friction at all in the locker room with that [trade request]. Not at all.”
Magic center Nikola Vucevic, the team’s longest-tenured player in his ninth season, said trade talk affects players differently, but it’s important to keep in mind that those decisions aren’t made by players.
“Really it’s something that’s out of our control,” Vucevic said. “That’s the business side of the game. If the front office decides to make any moves that’s on them, that’s their right. We as players have to focus on what we can control, which is know our play and our energy to play in games.
“I’m sure it’s not always easy when you see your name pop up in a bunch of rumors and everybody deals with it differently. I think at the end of the day, it’s not something you can really control. I don’t think there’s a reason to put much energy into it but I think always around a deadline there’s always little things here and there and it can affect people in different ways.”