4 trades to send Aaron Gordon to the Rockets

Houston Rockets trade package #4.

Aside from the New York Knicks, it’s been reported that the Miami Heat are one of the teams with the most interest in Victor Oladipo, and rightfully so. Miami is on the outside of an Eastern Conference triumvirate of contenders, which includes the Philadelphia 76ers, Brooklyn Nets, and Milwaukee Bucks.

Each of those teams made key moves to improve their roster, while Miami stood pat and opted to retain the roster that reached the NBA Finals in 2020. Miami is reportedly Oladipo’s desired destination, which would certainly factor in to the decision to make a move for him, as they could ink him to a long-term deal.

Many have questioned why Miami would make a trade for Oladipo when they could simply sign him in free agency, but the obvious answer is because there are other teams that are interested in Oladipo, so it’s no guarantee that Miami would land him. On top of that, Miami would shell out the expiring contract of Andre Iguodala and Meyers Leonard, who is club-controlled, with a team-option for next season, which isn’t much for a fringe star-level player.

For the Orlando Magic, they’d land draft capital, in the form of two second-round picks (one from Miami and the other from Houston), while also landing a player in Kendrick Nunn, who is just 25-years-old and is averaging 13.7 points off of Miami’s second unit, while also shooting 35.2 percent from three. For the Rockets, they’d land their prized target for Oladipo and a future draft pick, which is beyond worth it.

Next: No. 3