clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Lawrence: Blazers Went After Aaron Gordon Before Trading for Covington

The Blazers may have courted an Orlando forward before consummating a trade with Houston.

NBA: Orlando Magic at Brooklyn Nets Nicole Sweet-USA TODAY Sports

As 2020 NBA trade season began, the primary target of the Portland Trail Blazers may have been Orlando Magic forward Aaron Gordon rather than the player they actually acquired, Robert Covington of the Houston Rockets. Mitch Lawrence of SiriusXM Radio’s NBA Channel tweeted today that the Blazers offered the same package for Gordon that they did for Covington, but were rebuffed. That package included forward Trevor Ariza, Portland’s first-round pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, and a lottery-protected first-rounder in the 2021 NBA Draft.

Gordon, a seven-year veteran, averaged 14.4 points and 7.7 rebounds for the Magic last season. He shot 43.7% from the field and 30.8% from the arc. He’ll make $18.1 million in 2020-21 from a contract that expires in the summer of 2022, with a total remaining value of $34.5 million.

Covington is entering his eighth season. He scored 11.6 with 8.0 rebounds per game for the Rockets in 2019-20, averaging 39.2% shooting from the field and 31.5% from the arc. His contract also expires in 2022. He’ll make $12.1 million this year, $25 million total.