Word on the street is that the Pelicans are once again exploring trade options for guard Eric Gordon, who’s been healthy all season, but whose numbers don’t quite justify his contract. Per the Sporting News:
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 said. “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 (Ryan) Anderson injury, (Monty) Williams has been using that lineup more, but the lack of size (Gordon and (Jrue) Holiday are 6-3, and (Tyreke) Evans is 6-6) hurts defensively.
