4 trades to send Aaron Gordon to the Rockets

Houston Rockets trade package #2.

In this trade, the Orlando Magic receive Obi Toppin, who was the eighth pick of the 2020 NBA Draft, which was just less than four months ago. The Knicks used a lottery pick on Toppin with expectations of him becoming their star power forward and franchise cornerstone.

With Julius Randle having emerged as the star player for the Knicks, the long-term need for Toppin isn’t exactly there, as Randle is still just 26-years-old. For Orlando, receiving Toppin, who is under contract through 2024 (with team options in 2022 and 2023) in exchange for Aaron Gordon, who is just under contract for one more season, is a no-brainer.

Not to mention the fact that they would also receive draft capital, in the form of a future second-round pick from the Houston Rockets. Speaking of the latter, the Rockets would receive Aaron Gordon and Kevin Knox, who has fallen out of Tom Thibodeau’s rotation, as he’s averaged just 14 minutes per game this season, despite shooting a career-best 40 percent from deep, and is under contract through 2022, before becoming a restricted free agent.

The Knicks would get their guy in Oladipo, along with Rockets 27-year-old forward Danuel House, who has averaged 10 points in three years in Houston, while also shooting 36.9 percent from three. House is under contract through 2022, at a very team-friendly number of $3.7 million this season and $3.8 million next season.

Next: No. 1