NBA Rumors: Aaron Gordon Could Get Extension Worth $20M-$21M Annually

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The Denver Nuggets traded for Aaron Gordon last season, in the hopes that he could become the missing piece that made them a championship-level team. Aaron Gordon is phenomenal near the rim as well as being an elite defender. Though the Denver Nuggets' championship hopes were dashed with a long-term injury to Jamal Murray, it seems as though they do believe in this core.

Mike Singer of the Denver Post has recently reported that the Denver Nuggets and Aaron Gordon "share mutual optimism" on agreeing to an extension. One of Singer's sources reported that the deal could pay Gordon around $20 million annually.

There is mutual optimism, league sources told The Denver Post, about a contract extension for Gordon. A new deal could come as early as this week, a source said.

Gordon is eligible for a four-year, $88 million extension. One source projected a deal could be for two or three years at an average annual salary of $20 million to $21 million per year.

The 25-year-old forward is entering the final year of his four-year, $80 million deal, which is worth $16.4 million this season.

When the Nuggets traded Gary Harris, rookie R.J. Hampton and a future first-round pick to Orlando at the deadline, they envisioned Gordon being a part of their core moving forward. An extension would pair him with franchise cornerstones Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, in addition to, potentially, Michael Porter Jr., who’s extension eligible himself up until the start of the season.

Retaining a defensive specialist in Aaron Gordon will be key for the Denver Nuggets, and it seems as though the plan was always to keep him as a core piece. The Denver Nuggets have a solid young core, and once everyone is healthy, they will potentially be able to compete for a championship.