Renck vs. Durando: Should Nuggets return Aaron Gordon to starting lineup? And does that impact the trade deadline?

Troy Renck: He is Commissioner Gordon to Nikola Jokic’s Batman. Aaron Gordon is the reigning MVP’s most loyal ally, explaining on multiple occasions that he has created the road map for unselfishness. But while Gordon has been one of the best teammates in Nuggets history, it remains fair to ask if there is a capacity for his loyalty. Gordon was hurt. He was limited. He is not anymore. His calf is healed. By his own admission, he is ready. So, Bennett, I ask you, should Gordon return to the starting lineup and how does that impact any potential addition at the trade deadline?

Bennett Durando: As justifiably eager as Gordon is to be free of his minutes restriction, I can understand it if Michael Malone and Denver’s medical staff still prefer to be cautious. After all, there is evidence on record of the re-injury risk Gordon’s calf presents. It already happened this season. Whether the timeline is one more game on the bench or 15, though, the power forward ought to be back in the starting five eventually. He’s the best defender on the roster when he’s right, and the Nuggets have the 18th-ranked defense in the league as of Monday. The loss of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is certainly an element of that, but so is the health of Gordon.

Renck: The Nuggets boast a 6-1 record with Gordon coming off the bench. And they are 12-4 over their last 16 games. I am going to thread the needle here. Denver has four games remaining on its current road trip. I would keep Gordon as a reserve until the Nuggets return home for the first of back-to-back games against sad-sack New Orleans. Gordon should not lose his starting spot to injury; keep Russell Westbrook starting this week then revert back to the original script as all parties have time to digest the change. As a starter, Westbrook works in January, but the Nuggets need Gordon in the lineup to be their best version in April.

Durando: What makes the situation such great fodder for debate is that nobody has done anything to deserve being “benched.” Westbrook has been a breath of fresh air in Denver. Gordon was merely hurt. Christian Braun has taken proper strides as a first-time starter. If Westbrook returns to his original role as the Nuggets’ sixth man, which seems sensible, they’ll still want to fiddle with sub patterns to maximize his minutes alongside Jokic. There’s also something to be said for staggering Gordon with the second unit even if/when he’s starting again, considering how successful the non-Jokic minutes have been lately. As Malone pointed out last week, Denver tends to rotate Gordon with that bench unit as a center during the playoffs anyway.

Renck: Gordon will make a seamless transition back to his old role. It is what he does, who he is. But let’s be clear, another issue lingers. The Nuggets need to add a big before next Thursday’s trade deadline. I would have said a big star, but Jamal Murray awoke from his hibernation so no reason to pursue Zach LaVine. But Portland’s Robert Williams would be a shrewd move to infuse shot blocking, defense, while giving Jokic a breather beyond DeAndre Jordan. We just watched the Avs trade away one of the league’s top players, and no matter how they explain it, they are not better. It would be refreshing for the Nuggets to go the opposite direction and supplement their team for a title run.

Durando: That’s just the problem, though. If you’re chemically opposed to giving away the best player in a trade, the Nuggets might be fresh out of luck. Almost all of their most feasible options involve sending out Michael Porter Jr. and getting two players back — the same structure as the Mikko Rantanen deal. (Williams and Anfernee Simons for Porter? Not even that works for the Nuggets unless they add at least $2.46 million in salary, aka Julian Strawther.) Otherwise, you’re crossing your fingers that Portland is a taker on Zeke Nnaji’s contract and Dario Saric’s. Nnaji’s $8.9 million salary is the source of much skepticism around the league. And to your original question about Gordon and the trade deadline: He’s the big Denver can add this season, before DaRon Holmes joins the fray next year. Limited resources may be best allocated elsewhere.

Want more Nuggets news? Sign up for the Nuggets Insider to get all our NBA analysis.