Houston Rockets: 3 trades of Eric Gordon to the Mavericks, Nuggets, and Grizzlies

Houston Rockets Eric Gordon Trade #1: Memphis Grizzlies

The Memphis Grizzlies offer the Rockets a soft landing spot for Eric Gordon due to their healthy cap situation. Going into next season the Grizzlies have $98.4 million in salary commitments and then only $45.2 million for the 2022-23 season.

The Grizzlies are a young team that could use a veteran who has gone on the type of deep playoff runs that the franchise hopes to embark on. Gordon fits their current financial timeline, would be an invaluable locker room presence, and most crucially is a player who can help take the shot-creating load off of Ja Morant.

The Grizzlies are an exciting young team but outside of Morant, the roster lacks another player who can create shots for themself and others. Gordon isn't an elite creative player but he's more than capable of guiding a second unit and providing playmaking support to a team's best five.

To get Gordon the Grizzlies will have to part with Grayson Allen, who is the younger, cheaper, and worse version of current day Gordon. Allen has improved steadily since his disastrous rookie season but outside a reliable 3-point stroke he doesn't offer a team much.

The Grizzlies have so much depth and cap space that swapping Allen for a player like Gordon makes a lot of sense. Gordon offers the Grizzlies more of what they need both on and off the court and Allen is simply surplus.