Nikola Jokić might have been emotional — even shedding tears — when the Denver Nuggets traded away Gary Harris in the 2021 deal for Aaron Gordon, but little did he (or anyone else) know how transformative that move would become for the franchise. And to think it all hinged on one of their Western Conference rivals stepping back at a pivotal moment.
As Bennett Durando of The Denver Post reported, the Orlando Magic had a trade agreement in place with the Houston Rockets leading up to the 2021 deadline. However, the Rockets sensed that Gordon wasn’t committed to signing a long-term extension with them, causing the deal to collapse. That hesitation opened the door for Denver — and altered the trajectory for multiple teams.
The Nuggets should send a heartfelt thank-you not only to the Rockets, but also to Aaron Gordon himself. By not giving Houston the assurance they sought on a future contract, AG helped steer the deal toward Denver. Boston deserves recognition too — they were the runner-up in the bidding but didn’t outbid the Nuggets.
It didn’t take long for the value of the trade to become crystal clear. With all due respect to longtime Nuggets contributor Gary Harris, Denver surrendered Harris, rookie R.J. Hampton (whose NBA career didn’t pan out as hoped), and a protected 2025 first-round pick (which eventually became the No. 25 selection). In return, they landed a versatile forward who became a cornerstone of their first NBA championship in 2023. That’s a steal the Nuggets would happily repeat a million times over.
In hindsight, the Rockets likely wish they had pushed harder. Every contending team could use an Aaron Gordon, but few fit as seamlessly as he does alongside Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray in Denver.
Aaron Gordon remains the Nuggets’ X-Factor heading into a potential title run
Gordon has battled injuries this season, missing significant time with a hamstring issue and playing in just around 32-33 games so far — his lowest total with the Nuggets. He returned to action in early March but has dealt with soft-tissue concerns that have limited his availability (his previous low was 51 games in 2024-25).
Denver is counting on him to stay healthy for a deep playoff push. The team has exited in the second round the past two postseasons, and outcomes might have differed if Gordon hadn’t suffered a hamstring injury in Game 6 against the Oklahoma City Thunder last year.
The biggest concern with AG continues to be durability and soft-tissue injuries — a legitimate worry given his history. Without him, Denver’s defense (already a work in progress at times) would take a major hit. He is the ultimate glue guy: elite defender, lob threat, versatile scorer, and willing role player who elevates everyone around him.
That said, this isn’t the moment for pessimism. No one should doubt the Nuggets’ ability to chase another championship — betting against Jokić and Murray in the playoffs has long been a risky proposition. If Denver does hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy again, they might want to send the Houston Rockets a nice Edible Arrangement… or at least a very public thank-you note.
The 2021 trade that once brought tears has quietly become one of the smartest moves in recent Nuggets history — and it only happened because Houston (unknowingly) passed. Sometimes the best gifts come from conference rivals who walk away.