The Top-5 Houston Rockets based on their trade value

Houston Rockets Trade Value #5: Eric Gordon

What a difference a year makes. Last season, Eric Gordon did everything in his power to make his trade value about as low as it possibly could be. Perhaps he saw the writing on the wall, that the franchise was headed for a rebuild, and he decided he’d like to stay in Houston, so he actively tanked his trade value.

Jokes aside, Gordon’s remarkable turnaround this season has not gotten nearly enough press. All one has to do is look at his shooting numbers from this season and last to see how quickly and dramatically he has resuscitated his career.

                        FGA        FG%       3P%        2P%     PTS/G

2019-20:     12.9     36.9%    31.7%    46.9%    14.4

2020-21:     13.4     45.9%    36.1%    59.3%    18.6

Difference: +0.5      +9%      +4.4%    +12.4%   +4.2

Gordon at the end of the 2019-20 season looked to be maybe the worst contract in the entire league. He was 31 going on 32, had just had his worst season ever, and a four-year $75.6 million extension was set to kick in.

His combination of production, age, and contract was so putrid the Rockets would have likely had to give up multiple first-round picks just for someone to take him. What Gordon has done this season is completely flip the script and now he’s a player with real trade value.

The length of commitment has become a plus and the Rockets could likely land a lightly protected first-round pick for Gordon through trade. No matter his age and contract figure, it’s really hard to find players that can efficiently average 18.6 points in 28.9 minutes a game.

Gordon is not going to secure the Rockets a massive return but compared to where he was last season his trade value has skyrocketed. The net change in his trade value from negative to positive makes his current trade value appear like that of a superstar.

Next: #4