INDIANAPOLIS, EN – JANUARY 06: Houston Rockets’ Eric Gordon # 10 shoots the ball during the… [] game against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on January 6, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that by downloading and / or using this photograph, user consents to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images license agreement. (Photo by Michael Hickey / Getty Images)
After what can only be described as one of the most disappointing seasons of his career last season, five games on from the 2020-2021 season, Houston Rockets goalie Eric Gordon finally looks healthy. In 27.4 minutes per game, he averages 16.6 points per game for 43% of shots. Gordon looked particularly sharp and explosive at first, easily hitting the rim.
Last season, Gordon shot just 37% from the floor and 32% of 3 averaging 14.4 points per game. This year, while Gordon is shooting just 30% on 8.8 attempts at 3 points per game, he is shooting 78% on 2.
In the Rockets’ last game, against the Orlando Magic, Gordon scored just five points, but the team had an 18 with him on the ground. If he excludes this game, he averages 19.5 points on 44% of the floor and 30% on 3s.
Gordon’s performance is of particular significance to the Rockets, not only because he was one of the team’s most important playoff players and players during the James Harden era. Gordon’s $ 16.9 million salary is the third highest on the team. The Rockets currently find themselves in a precarious position, as they are $ 5.22 million above the league’s $ 132.62 million luxury tax line and just $ 1.07 million under the apron. luxury tax. Following the injury of goaltender Chris Clemons, the Rockets have just 14 active players.
The direction CEO Rafael Stone takes with the roster is entirely up to the whims of Harden who currently has active business demand, according to reports. If the Rockets do end up capitulating to Harden’s demand, they’ll almost certainly be looking to lose their paycheck and dive below the league’s luxury tax line. Few, if any, owners would want to pay taxes on a non-competing team in the midst of an organizational rebuild.
But some remained hopeful that Harden’s mind could be changed and the All-Star Guardian’s comments after a resounding victory on Friday night only fueled that blaze. Key additions John Wall and Christian Wood have impressed so far and could give Harden the supporting cast he feels he needs to get the Rockets to argue.
If Harden indeed decides that his preference would be to stay with Houston, Gordon’s salary could be a way to upgrade the team. Stone acquired several draft picks over the summer in trades with Portland and Washington that could be used for later deals. If you acquire another impact player, those picks should be combined with a high salary, for salary cap matching purposes, and Gordon’s appears to be the only one on the team cap sheet that’s big enough. to bring back any expensive talent.
Of course, if Gordon continues his current game and remains healthy, the best option for Stone might simply be to keep Gordon, who is now the second-oldest Rocket on the roster after Harden. Last season, the inconsistency of roles seemed to frustrate Gordon, with head coach Mike D’Antoni sometimes choosing to pair him up with the starters and sometimes to take him off the bench. This year, head coach Stephen Silas said he prefers to get Gordon off the bench so he has more freedom to create the dribble.
Either way, the Rockets must be happy with Gordon’s game so far and can only hope he stays healthy.
I am a public finance, municipal tax and open government lawyer living in Houston, Texas. I’ve been covering the Houston Rockets since 2009 to
I am a public finance, municipal tax and open government lawyer living in Houston, Texas. I’ve been covering the Houston Rockets since 2009 on Red94.net, formerly the TrueHoop Network Houston Rockets affiliate of ESPN.com. I host the Red94 podcast and can be followed @redninetyfour on Twitter.
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