Denver Traded Harris, Hampton and a First for Aaron Gordon
At the March 25, 2021 deadline, Denver acquired Aaron Gordon and Gary Clark Jr. from Orlando. The Magic obtained Gary Harris, RJ Hampton and a future first-round selection with top-five protections that eventually matured at No. 25 in 2025, used on Jase Richardson. Denver had established its offense around Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray but needed a larger defender who could finish at the basket without monopolizing the ball. Gordon had spent years in Orlando as a high-profile lottery forward and wanted to compete in the playoffs. The Magic was rebuilding and preferred younger pieces along with a first-round asset. This was not simply Gordon for Harris; Hampton and the future pick were consequential costs to Denver, and Clark arrived as the other player acquired.
Gordon Became the Defensive Forward on a Championship Team
Gordon immediately accepted a different role in Denver, cutting toward the rim, defending larger wings and switching assignments while Jokić handled playmaking. He became a central starter on the 2022-23 Nuggets team that won the franchise’s first NBA championship. His ability to defend multiple frontcourt players and score efficiently without needing the ball gave Denver a missing complementary piece. He remained important during further playoff runs and signed a longer commitment to the club. The Nuggets A+ inherited grade is supported by sustained starting minutes and a title with Gordon as an actual contributor, not by attributing every Jokić achievement solely to the trade. The shorter contributions from Clark should be acknowledged without placing them on the same level as Gordon’s years of impact.
Orlando Received a Guard and Prospect Before Its Later Rebuild
Harris brought veteran perimeter defense and shooting to Orlando, while Hampton offered a chance to develop a young backcourt player. The future first-round selection provided another asset that eventually became No. 25 in 2025, associated with Jase Richardson. Those were legitimate returns but did not produce an Orlando champion or a star with Gordon’s specific Denver impact. The Magic B- inherited grade reflects useful experience and future draft flexibility while acknowledging the loss of a physically versatile starter. The team later developed a separate young frontcourt around Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, but those players were acquired through other decisions and should not be credited to this trade as though they were part of the return. The trade’s direct long-term win belongs to the Denver side.
Final Verdict
Nuggets Win. Denver earns A+ for Aaron Gordon and Gary Clark Jr., with Gordon eventually becoming a starting defender on its 2023 championship team. Orlando receives B- for Gary Harris, RJ Hampton and a protected future first-rounder that became No. 25 Jase Richardson in 2025. The championship frontcourt role validates Denver’s choice.