The Aaron Gordon chatter got louder for a reason: once Marc Stein reported the Nuggets had talked about Jaylen Brown, the whole thing stopped feeling hypothetical. Denver doesn’t casually explore a deal that massive without being willing to move real pieces, and Gordon has quickly become the name to watch.
That tracks with the latest reporting. The Denver Post confirmed Gordon is no longer untouchable in trade talks, and Michael Scotto said there are already teams circling Gordon, Cam Johnson, and Peyton Watson. Stein later clarified that Gordon is the one drawing the most outside interest.
And it makes sense. Gordon just put up 16.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and shot 49.7% last season.
He remains one of the best forwards in the league for life next to Nikola Jokic - a cutter, screener, finisher, and defender who doesn’t need the ball. The issue in Denver isn’t fit.
It’s money. Peyton Watson is reportedly headed toward $28-30 million per year, Christian Braun has already signed a five-year, $125 million extension, and the bill keeps climbing.
If the Nuggets want to make a real swing, Gordon is the piece that opens the door.
Boston sits at the top of the list because this is the kind of deal that only exists if Denver is truly chasing Brown. Brown’s 2025-26 season was massive: 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, 5.1 assists, another All-Star selection, and All-NBA-level production while Boston dealt with Jayson Tatum’s injury.
If the Celtics move him, they need a return that changes the shape of the roster. Gordon and Cameron Johnson get the money close enough to Brown’s $57.1 million to make the framework work, and Julian Strawther plus a 2031 first-round pick sweeten it further.
Gordon gives Boston a physical wing defender, Johnson brings 43.0% three-point shooting, Strawther adds a young wing, and the pick matters. For Denver, the appeal is simple: Brown gives Jokic another star-level weapon, not just another solid piece.
Houston also has a clean path here. The Rockets went 52-30, finished sixth in defensive rating, and had Kevin Durant scoring 26.0 points per night on elite efficiency.
That’s a team trying to win now. Gordon fits that timeline.
The Nuggets would get Jabari Smith Jr., Clint Capela, and a 2029 first-round pick. Smith Jr. posted 15.8 points, 6.9 rebounds, and shot 36.3% from three while still being only 23 and 6-foot-11.
Capela at $7 million is useful center depth, and the pick is the extra value. For Houston, Gordon is the more immediate answer next to Alperen Sengun and alongside Durant, Amen Thompson, and the rest of the wing group.
San Antonio is another logical landing spot. The Spurs just went 62-20 and made the Finals, which means the next step is obvious: add playoff-ready players around Victor Wembanyama.
Gordon fits that bill better than almost anyone. He would guard bigger wings, screen, cut, and stay out of the way offensively.
The return to Denver would be Keldon Johnson, Kelly Olynyk, and a 2029 first-round pick. Johnson’s $17.5 million salary and Olynyk’s $13.4 million get the numbers close enough, and Johnson’s 13.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, 51.9% shooting, and 36.3% from deep last season give Denver a workable forward.
Olynyk can pass and shoot, which helps in a Jokic system. Best of all for San Antonio, it wouldn’t require touching Wembanyama, De’Aaron Fox, Dylan Harper, Stephon Castle, or Devin Vassell.
The Lakers round out the four-team list, and they can make the money work if they really want to. Gordon would head to Los Angeles for Jarred Vanderbilt, Deandre Ayton, Dalton Knecht, and first-round picks in 2031 and 2033.
Vanderbilt is the defensive forward who can fit next to Jokic in a low-usage role. Ayton, after opting in at $8.1 million, gives Denver a cheaper center option to soak up regular-season minutes.
Knecht is the young piece that actually matters, and the two firsts are the real prize. Gordon’s $32 million salary means the Lakers would need to be precise with the mechanics, especially with LeBron James’ situation still unsettled, but the structure works.
On the court, Gordon would give Luka Doncic exactly the kind of forward he needs: one who defends, cuts, screens, and doesn’t demand touches.
If Denver is serious about a blockbuster, Gordon is the hinge. He’s not the whole story. He’s the player who makes the bigger move possible.
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