Eric Gordon

[Rise of The Hive]

A little more than two years after acquiring him, and 18 months after matching a four-year, $58 million offer sheet from Phoenix, the Pelicans remain active in their pursuit of trading guard Eric Gordon, league sources told Sporting News this week. New Orleans has made contact with several teams about Gordon, even devising three-team scenarios in order to find him a new home.

The Pelicans first began seeking trade options for Gordon last summer, after acquiring point guard Jrue Holiday from Philadelphia on draft night and getting swingman Tyreke Evans in a sign-and-trade from Sacramento. There was some hope at that time that the Suns might remain interested in Gordon, but after Phoenix brought in Eric Bledsoe in a trade, that interest had dwindled.

 

The Pelicans are desperately seeking frontcourt help, particularly a center they can put next to blossoming star Anthony Davis. New Orleans sent Robin Lopez to Portland in the offseason as part of the deal that landed them Evans, but have not been able to replace him. For the last four games, coach Monty Williams has gone with Alexis Ajinca, signed from the French League last month, as his starting center.

Additionally, the Pelicans have been without power forward Ryan Anderson for the last three games, as he recovers from a herniated disc suffered in a head-to-head collision with Gerald Wallace last week. Even when healthy, though, Williams prefers to bring Anderson’s scoring punch off the bench.

New Orleans entered the season bent on earning a spot in the postseason, after missing the playoffs for three straight seasons since trading away star point guard Chris Paul, the deal that brought Gordon to the Pelicans in the first place. But the Pelicans have lost four of their last five to slip to 15-19, 11th in the West and four games out of a playoff berth.

The problem with dealing Gordon is that the Pelicans are unlikely to get fair value. In his first two seasons with New Orleans, he played just 51 of 148 possible games, dealing with a variety of injuries. Around the league, the belief was that Gordon was bitter with New Orleans management for having matched the offer from Phoenix.

Gordon has been healthy this year, and is averaging 15.6 points on 43.9 percent shooting, making 38.5 percent of his 3-pointers. But that production doesn’t match up with his contract, which calls for Gordon to make more than $14 million this year and $30 million over the next two years (he has a player option on the final year of the deal).

“He has been healthy and he has played better,” one league executive told Sporting News. “But he is a still a long way from living up to what you have to pay him. His contract is still the big reason they are not able to do anything with him at this point.”

The hope for the Pelicans this year was to play Gordon in a three-guard look with Holiday and Evans. Ideally, that lineup would have been effective and, at the same time, rebuilt Gordon’s value should the Pelicans decide to trade him. Partly out of necessity with the Anderson injury, Williams has been using that lineup more, but the lack of size (Gordon and Holiday are 6-3, and Evans is 6-6) hurts defensively.

The lineup that has those three on the floor with Davis and Anderson is easily the Pelicans’ best offensively, averaging 1.25 points per possession according to 82games.com, but is its second-worst lineup defensively (1.20 points per possession).

“Those three guys are sometimes undersized with that group,” Williams said. “For us, that poses problems with other teams, especially off the dribble.”

Still, Gordon says he is happy now in New Orleans and would like a chance to let the three-guard look develop.

“We know that is a dynamic group,” Gordon told Sporting News, “because you’ve got guys who can go to the basket at will at any time, and you have (Davis) trailing. It is a dynamic guard group for anybody to stop. … We use it every now and then, but we are still building chemistry with each other when we are all out on the court at the same time. I would like to see it out there a lot more. I think it is better that way.”

But, flailing in the standings, eager to make the playoffs and well-stocked with guard depth, the Pelicans apparently have little choice but to continue to explore trade options for Gordon.

 

http://www.sportingnews.com/nba/story/2014-01-10/eric-gordon-trade-rumors-pelicanscontract-deal-suns-clippers-chris-paul-eric-bledsoe-ryan-anderson?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

 

Please no, this seems like the kind of move MJ / Cho seem desperate to make to compete for a playoff spot this season.

[Proudiddy]

Yeah, I like how me mentioning in the trade thread that trading for JR Smith on a cheap, short-term deal was "stupid" and immediately written off, only to see in one of the very next posts Gordon suggested as a desirable option... LOL. I immediately thought of the huge deal he's on and basically how he'll never justify it. I can't think of many moves that would be worse.

I don't see how any team would be willing to take him. That is a horrible deal.

[CarolinaNCSU]

Gordon's injury history alone makes me wary of acquiring him for any deal. Let alone for his current contract. 

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

Did you not read the article?

 

They won't front court help.... Aside from Big Al, we have nothing they would want, and they aren't getting Big Al.

[carpanfan96]

Big AL for Gordon and a draft pick, maybe that pick will have some luck on it. I like, the Cats need to do that ASAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   Get rid of Big AL, I can barely shoot 50% as a big, can't play defense ass out of Charlotte. I'd trade him for a bag of Doritos and a 50 year old MJ hitting the court as a player. 

[stinger14]

Big NO to Gordon. I am not opposed to trading big Al however. I am all for making trades that add picks and assets. If management is all in on making playoffs then we better finish between the 3 and 6 seeds to make it worthwhile. Chicago has unloaded Deng and rumors swirl they are selling to tank for draft and go hard in free agency.

Charlotte

Trades Al Jefferson, Ben Gordon, and 2015 second round pick

Chicago

Trades Carlos Boozer, Joakim Noah, and Mike Dunleavy

Chicago wants to shed salary and nobody really wants Boozer. This rids them of Boozer because even if they amnesty him they still gotta pay him. Gordons expiring gives them a chance to go after Carmelo or whoever in free agency. Big Al takes over at center and Taj Gibson takes over at the 4

Charlotte gets a true top 10 center in Noah who helps on both ends of the floor. Boozer gives you numbers very similar to what Jefferson does. Dunleavy adds depth and shooting on the wing.

Kemba

Hendo

MKG

Boozer

Noah

[Proudiddy]

Sooo...  we're ready to trade Big Al already?  :lol:

[stinger14]

I really never wanted to sign him. I actually prefer to tank one more year. However it seems management thinks different. I think if you have a player like Al or Boozer then you need a guy like Noah beside them. Charlotte has nothing even close to Noah. Dunleavy would help on the wing

[chubs2496]

I would be ok with going after Noah. But not boozer. Eff that.

[stinger14]

Boozer and Jefferson give you very similar production with similar contracts. Bulls have Gibson to plug in at the 4 spot. Jefferson and Noah are both centers. Boozer and Gibson are both PF. We would not want Noah and Jefferson on court together. They would not want Boozer and Gibson playing together. This is why I included Boozer.

[chubs2496]

Boozer and Jefferson give you very similar production with similar contracts. Bulls have Gibson to plug in at the 4 spot. Jefferson and Noah are both centers. Boozer and Gibson are both PF. We would not want Noah and Jefferson on court together. They would not want Boozer and Gibson playing together. This is why I included Boozer.

Hell yeah I want Noah in this lineup. He's an all star. Would be the second one we've ever had. And secondly he's a great defensive center. U can let him play pf along with big al and that would help a ton. And Noah can shoot somewhat and rebounds good. I'd love to have him here. But the thing is Chicago won't trade him imo

[Wanderlai]

Didn't Charlotte pass on Noah in the draft? Trade what we got for draft picks. Although the team shows no ability to find the gems.

[stinger14]

Noah probably could play pf but just like you said, he is a great defensive center. Playing him at pf takes him from his natural center position. Al playing pf is not a good idea either. Bulls are wanting to get rid of Boozer and would never want Boozer and Gibson playing together because they would have no true center. The Bulls need to like the deal also and including Boozer and Jefferson may get their attention. Boozer will give you about the same production as Jefferson anyway.

[stinger14]

I would much rather trade what we have for draft picks but if management decides not to then wr gotta hope for the best in a trade or two.