Houston Rockets: Eric Gordon, should he stay or should he go?

The Houston Rockets have almost entirely dismantled the roster that led them to the best record in the league and the Western Conference Finals in the 2017-18 season. The last holdover, from the best regular-season team in franchise history, remains Eric Gordon.

Gordon has only featured in 27 games this season for the Rockets due to a groin strain he suffered in early March but he could return to the rotation before the season ends. However, Gordon’s days in Houston could be coming to an end as the franchise looks to start over after a decade of contention.

Eric Gordon’s winding path with the Houston Rockets

Eric Gordon arrived in Houston in the summer of 2016 and instantly helped to reinvigorate a team that had stumbled to a .500 record the season before. In the first four years of his Rockets career, the team posted a win percentage of 68.2-percent and won 217 games.

To reward him for being a part of one of the franchise’s most successful periods the Rockets signed Gordon to a four-year extension worth $75.6 million that would tie him to the team through the 2023-24 season. From the moment that Gordon put pen to paper everything for him and the Rockets has trended downward.

In 2019-20 Gordon endured a rash of injuries and ineffectiveness as the Rockets sunk to the lowest win percentage of his tenure. Following the season Gordon saw Daryl Morey and Mike D’Antoni depart, the only head coach and lead executive of his Rockets’ career to that date.

Not long after, Russell Westbrook was sent to the Washington Wizards, then James Harden was moved in a blockbuster deal to the Brooklyn Nets, and finally, P.J. Tucker was moved to the Milwaukee Bucks. A roster that had playoff aspirations suddenly looked like a team that would be fighting for lottery positions.

However, Eric Gordon, largely due to his contract, stayed put in Houston as the last reminder of the not-so-distant glory days. As the offseason approached the question for the Rockets is, what will happen with Eric Gordon?

Next: Should the Rockets move Eric Gordon?

Will the Houston Rockets trade Eric Gordon?

If it wasn’t for the ill-timed groin injury, Gordon would have likely been the subject of trade speculation ahead of the trade deadline. However, the Rockets will have a difficult time finding a landing spot for Gordon.

Gordon’s reward for helping the Rockets remain a perennial contender will be the same reason he might never find himself on another one in his career. The extension the Rockets gave Gordon will see him earn $18.2 million next season and $19.5 million in 2022-23 when he will be 34-years-old.

The final year of his deal is for a non-guaranteed $20.9 million, which, barring an unforeseen late-career resurgence, won’t be seen out. The trick for the Rockets will be finding a team willing to take on Gordon for two years and $37.7 million.

While Gordon had a much better 2020-21 than 2019-20 the fact remains his combination of production, age, and injury history make his trade value non-existent. If the Rockets want to move Gordon this offseason they’ll likely have to attach sweeteners to get his contract off of their books.

If the Rockets can land even a second-round pick for Gordon they should look to take the deal along with the savings and build for the future. However, chances are Gordon remains a Rocket heading into next season and that should suit the Rockets just fine.

Next: Should the Rockets keep Eric Gordon?

Will the Houston Rockets keep Eric Gordon?

The Rockets don’t project to be a good team next season. The roster, regardless of their draft picks, will be thin on talent and experience. However, that doesn’t mean that Gordon can’t help the team.

The best rookie from the 2020 draft, LaMelo Ball, had to earn his minutes and was surrounded by veterans in the backcourt. Forcing your prospects to earn their minutes against veterans, while also learning from them, is the best environment to see them excel.

Gordon, before his injury, was sporting the best 2-point field-goal percentage of his career and should remain an excellent bench piece that’s capable of starting at a moment’s notice. Stars and starters get all the attention but having a strong bench is what separates most teams in the standings.

Having Gordon around to tutor and compete with the Rockets’ three first-round picks and Kevin Porter Jr will create an environment where development is a must. The difference between who ends up a star and who doesn’t usually comes down to which players put in the most work after they make it to the league.

The Rockets shouldn’t be aiming for the playoffs next season but building a culture of development should remain a priority. Gordon knows what it takes to have a long and productive career and that wisdom will be invaluable for a roster that will likely be one of the youngest in the league.

Next: The Verdict

What the Houston Rockets should do with Eric Gordon

The Houston Rockets should hang onto Eric Gordon for the 2021-22 season. His value around the league is too low to land anything of interest over the summer and his value as a mentor to a young team makes his salary palatable.

If Gordon has a strong season then he could become a trade target at mid-season or next offseason when he only has one more year of guaranteed money left on his contract. Gordon is the last man standing from the best Rockets teams since the back-to-back title-winning teams of the 90s.

His contributions to the franchise should give him some say in his future and if he wants to see out the life of his deal then the front office should listen. At the end of the day, Gordon is still an NBA caliber player, it’s simply that his contract is not commensurate with his abilities anymore.

The Rockets won’t be in a position to compete over the next few seasons so eating his contract won’t cost them a chance at a title. The future is bright in Houston if the Rockets are able to land a few blue-chip prospects over the next few drafts.

When Gordon’s contract comes off the books the Rockets will have an up-and-coming roster with a mountain of cap space. Hopefully, his presence will help the roster grow as he acts as the bridge between the last and next great Rockets’ team.