An Aaron Gordon out of body experience, however, wasn’t on my game 4 bingo card. That’s what we got, though. How good was the the former No. 4 overall pick Sunday night? Well, he led the Nuggets in minutes (41), rebounds (7-T) and blocks (2-T). He also went 11-for-12 (92%) from the field and 3-for-3 from deep, good for 27 points (2nd on DEN). Gordon’s +9 while on the court was the most of any Nuggets player in the starting lineup.

Aaron Gordon.

Difference maker in Game 4.

🔥 27 PTS
🔥 11-12 FGM
🔥 2-2 3PM
🔥 7 REB
🔥 6 AST
🔥 2 BLK

Nuggets tie the series… Game 5 is Tuesday at 10:30pm/et on TNT! pic.twitter.com/XrNcxJ8ku4

— NBA (@NBA) May 13, 2024

Aaron Gordon, who played his college ball at the University of Arizona, has twice received votes for Most Improved Player, but beyond that, he’s been something of a disappointment, since the Magic picked him in the top-5 of the 2014 NBA draft.

But under Mike Malone in Denver, Gordon is flourishing once again… but as a role player, who can hit some open shots and provide rebounding help for Nikola Jokic down low, not to take over games like he did last night.

Related: Anthony Edwards Needs Some Teammates

In the regular season, Aaron Gordon averaged just shy of 14 points per game and nothing about his percentages suggested a takeover in Minnesota during the second round of the Western Conference Playoffs was on the horizon.

Anthony Edwards mentions Aaron Gordon at press conference

The 28-year-old San Jose native shot a paltry 29% from deep this season, but he’s been a different guy this entire series, where he’s now averaging 17.3 points on 72% shooting (67% 3PT). The numbers are crazy, we know. Anthony Edwards can’t believe it either.

Ant leaving the podium: "Aaron Gordon, tssss" shaking his head 😂 pic.twitter.com/rt1lFMbIEx

— Superdrunkmark69 (@cjzer0) May 13, 2024

Realistically a playoff series is about staying the course, and that’s absolutely what the Timberwolves, Chris Finch, and Micah Nori must do. If Aaron Gordon is going to continue pouring in points at a pace he has never shown during a regular season, well then that’s an unfortunate way to get beat.

Related: Anthony Edwards Needs Some Teammates

Jokic is always going to get his (35 points in game 4), and Jamal Murray is the other guy you gameplan for defensively. Not Aaron Gordon. The Timberwolves need their Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert to show up bigger than he did in Games 3 and 4 (a quick darkness retreat today maybe?) and Karl Anthony Towns has to be substantially better as well.

But what Minnesota shouldn’t do is fall for the Aaron Gordon mirage. Let him shoot. The law of averages will eventually win out. That’s why we play seven game series in the NBA. Chris Finch and his defensive assistants should keep their attention on that side of the floor focused elsewhere. We know what AG is. Let him fall back to earth.

Reminder: Aaron Gordon's 3P shooting numbers:

2024 Season: 29.0%
2024 Playoffs: 25.0%
This series: 60.0%

— Leo S (@Y0Leo) May 11, 2024

Remember that time Aaron Gordon and Zach LaVine battled at the dunk contest?

As a 6’8” forward, the highlight of Aaron Gordon’s career has always, and will continue to be, his dunk contest exploits alongside Zach LaVine back in 2016. Back then Gordon was playing for the Orlando Magic and LaVine was blowing out birthday candles for the Minnesota Timberwolves. During this series for the Nuggets, it has been Gordon blowing out Minnesota’s playoff chances.

Throw away what happened at home, go back to what worked on the road, and the Timberwolves can emerge victorious in what has now changed to a best of three series with the first home team to win at an advantage.

In a season where the Minnesota Timberwolves are 7-29 at the All Star break, the last thing anyone expects is for them to be buyers instead of sellers at the trade deadline. But, not so fast. According to Shams Charania (The Athletic), the Timberwolves are expected to be buyers during this trade deadline.

Interesting. The #Timberwolves are a team that would typically sell, but I like this. pic.twitter.com/4GdvpXC7Hl

— Cooper (@CoopCarlson) March 4, 2021

At the time of my tweet, I liked the idea… but I’m backpedaling a little bit. Adding Aaron Gordon or John Collins would take the Wolves out of any future hunting for another “star”, because of their contracts. Collins is on the last year of his rookie deal and due for a big payday. Gordon is making $18 million this year and only has one season left on his current contract. Either guy would also take a boatful of assets to acquire.

Here is an excellent thread from Jack Borman (Canis Hoopus) on the impact a Collins or Gordon trade could have on the organization’s future.

4) Team would have 4 contracts of $15M AAV or more
5) would have to trade two of those core four guys, plus Ant, Jaden and picks for a legit star

— Jack Borman (@jrborman13) March 4, 2021

Let’s step back for a moment…

Adding either of John Collins or Aaron Gordon would all but ensure that the Wolves are committing to the Towns/Russell/Collins or Gordon trio, going forward. I’m not sure where a core five of Towns, Russell, Beasley, Edwards, and Collins/Gordon gets you, but it does sound a lot better than what we’ve seen this season.

This deal will probably require a 1st round pick from the Timberwolves but it can’t be in 2021 or the 2022 because both of those draft choices are tied up in trade protections. Instead, they’d likely have to give up young assets to go along with a pick further in the future.

I can’t blame Gersson Rosas for wanting to expedite this team’s growth. They need to start sipping from the winner’s cup more often, but it might be smarter at this time, to take a step back and wait until the lottery shakes out.

Keeping that pick is franchise-altering. If the Minnesota Timberwolves land in the top-3, hope rises from the ashes again. If not, then they will lose their pick to Golden State and well…. let’s not talk about that depression today.

Cooper Carlson | Minnesota Sports Fan