As the Houston Rockets traded James Harden and Russell Westbrook two seasons ago, their franchise decided to rebuild the composition of their roster and acquire young talent through the draft. 2021 NBA draftees Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun are still continuing to find their niche as the main rookies of this squad, while Kevin Porter Jr. and Christian Wood still have not been consistent with their production. This, in a second, actually brings us to Eric Gordon.
Even with a plethora of problems surrounding their team, there have also been a few unexpected revelations. One of them would be the resurgence of veteran Eric Gordon. He is currently averaging 15.1 points per game on 44.8% from behind the arc, which is eighth in the league. It seems likely for the Rockets to try and swing a deal for Gordon as he is not on the same timeline as the core of Houston.
Cam Reddish + picks
With the Atlanta Hawks reaching the Eastern Conference Finals last season, they are now on win-now mode. They struggled at the early juncture of the season as their wings have failed to live up to expectations with their subpar shooting and abysmal defense. Their inconsistency has caused the Hawks to lose to teams like the Houston Rockets and New York Knicks.
Cam Reddish has been in the midst of trade rumors over the past few weeks, probably because Atlanta will have trouble signing him after his rookie contract expires. Before Trae Young’s super max extension kicks in next year, Atlanta could trade Delon Wright, Reddish, Solomon Hill, and a pick for Eric Gordon. The result of this trade could go haywire because his contract is still guaranteed for two more years because the extension of Young and Kevin Huerter will lessen their cap flexibility starting next season.
Reggie Bullock + picks
The Dallas Mavericks were off to a hot start this season, but they have been struggling over the past few games, especially without Luka Doncic. They seem to be one of the teams that will be active before the trade deadline as they still continue to search for complementary pieces alongside Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis. When Seth Curry was on Dallas, he was remarkable off the bench for Rick Carlisle, thus Gordon could be acquired to have the similar role as Curry.
Bullock may have been signed in the offseason to be more of a force defensively, but his three-point shooting has dropped from 41% last season to 27% this season. Jason Kidd is having a difficult time inserting Bullock in the lineup consistently because he has not been a consistent threat, but swapping him for Eric Gordon opens up the floor more for Dallas. Moreover, the Mavericks could add Dwight Powell, Josh Green, and a pick to convince Houston to complete the trade.
Collin Sexton + picks
The Cleveland Cavaliers have been on a tear as one of the best teams in the association this season. There have been tremendous performances by numerous individuals, but one glaring missing link is young guard Collin Sexton. His torn meniscus has caused him to miss the whole season, while his contract is also expiring this offseason.
It does not seem ideal for Cleveland to sign him to a long term deal because they have Darius Garland handling the ball handling duties already. Thus, Gordon could provide that hefty benefit at the wing position along with Garland, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen. Additionally, Cleveland still has the cap flexibility until Gordon’s contract expires because Garland and Mobley are still on their rookie contracts. With this swap, the Cavaliers receive a proven shooter, while the Rockets get another young asset for their rebuilding franchise.
The Rockets still have a long way to go to return as a perennial contender, but selling high on Eric Gordon could provide a massive benefit for Houston. They must capitalize on players who they feel has excellent upside and possibly be a constant contributor for their franchise. The objective of trading Gordon for a substantial package could be very difficult, but at least Houston has a few delighted situations from their disappointing campaign.
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