NBA Trade Deadline 2020: One trade every team should make

Orlando Magic: Aaron Gordon for the Sacramento Kings’ Cory Joseph, Nemanja Bjelica and own unprotected 2021, 2022 second-rounders

Reason for Orlando: Jonathan Isaac is the future and the present for Orlando. He’s unbelievable already, one of the best and most disruptive defenders in the league, and his offense is expanding quickly. When he hopefully returns fully healthy next year, both Joseph and Bjelica would still be under contract. Aaron Gordon is a good young player who could become much more, but the Magic are looking at making noise in the shorter term. Nikola Vucevic is at his peak, and the team should make a run while he’s still one of the best offensive players in the league. Joseph is an upgrade at the guard spot over D.J. Augustin, especially defensively. Bjelica is a much better shooter than Gordon, and while he isn’t as good an overall player, he’s efficient and knows his role. He’d fit well alongside Vucevic. The Magic would upgrade in the present and gain a few second-round picks for the future. They could make real noise in the East next year.

Reason for Sacramento: Sacramento has bizarre roster construction going on, with what seems like a number of pieces that should fit together, but really their roster relies far too heavily on Richaun Holmes. De’Aaron Fox having a down year has hurt Sacramento more than expected, as they don’t have nearly enough initiators at other positions to make up for Fox’s limitations. Gordon would give the Kings some ball-handling, great defense, some creation and the potential for much more. He plays a similar position to Marvin Bagley III, but either could play small forward for short stretches. Their similarity is a slight issue, but Sacramento needs more talent, and Gordon provides that. They could figure out the rest in time. Sacramento isn’t ready to compete in the present, as this year has shown. A Gordon move is about the future.