The list of teams interested in Rockets shooting guard Eric Gordon has narrowed to a handful of contenders, according to Kelly Iko of The Athletic, who reports that the Suns and Clippers are among the clubs still in the mix.
Gordon has made his preference for a trade known to the Rockets, but Houston doesn’t plan to deal him just for the sake of it, says Iko. A source close to Gordon tells The Athletic that the veteran isn’t expected to push for a buyout if he’s still a Rocket after the deadline, so the club would be OK hanging onto him. However, if the Rockets get an offer that includes a first-round pick, a promising young player, or a “defensive-minded veteran on team-friendly money,” they’ll likely pull the trigger, Iko writes.
According to Iko, forward Jae’Sean Tate is among the other Rockets players drawing trade interest ahead of Thursday’s deadline. The Suns, Nuggets, Celtics, and Wizards are among the teams eyeing Tate, sources tell The Athletic. However, Houston still values the 27-year-old due in part to his selfless playing style and his attention to detail, per Iko, and would require a strong offer to part with him.
A few teams also inquired on second-year wing Josh Christopher, but those discussions didn’t go far, according to Iko, and the former first-round pick has been playing well as of late, averaging 12.4 PPG on 61.5% shooting in his last five games (18.5 MPG). He sounds likely to stay put in Houston.
Here are more trade rumors and notes from around the NBA:
- Multiple league sources tell Mike Singer of The Denver Post (subscriber link) that the Raptors – along with the Pelicans and Timberwolves – have registered interest in Nuggets guard Bones Hyland. Singer has heard from sources that Denver believes it has traction on acquiring a first-round pick for Hyland, though the team would prefer to acquire a win-now player who could immediately step into the rotation. The Nuggets are prioritizing a defensive-minded wing, Singer reiterates.
- Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer (subscription required) continues to hear from multiple sources that Jazz forward Jarred Vanderbilt is a leading trade target for the Sixers. Jake Fischer reported over the weekend that Philadelphia was interested in Vanderbilt.
- The Nets sent $2.58MM in cash to the Kings in the Kessler Edwards trade that was completed on Tuesday, reports ESPN’s Bobby Marks (via Twitter). That money is enough to cover Edwards’ remaining salary for 2022/23 as well as his $1.93MM team option for ’23/24 if Sacramento chooses to pick it up.
The Rockets need to just let EG go. He’s been a professional on and off the court for them for years and deserves to go to a winning situation. He’s been wasting away for almost 3 years in this rebuild. Think it would be best to take a couple 2nds and deal him.
Houston will be rebuilding for a long time.
I don’t have faith in the coaching staff. It took way too long to understand that playing thru Sengun is the way to go. When he’s off the floor there’s zero fluidity.
Then playing guys like Nix and Mathews over Josh Christopher and Tyty. It’s mind boggling how the rotations go from a game to game basis. They have talent. Can’t seem to execute it tho.
This coaching staff will not be there next year.
Wasting away while being compensated big $$
Well, yeah. He was compensated fairly for his play on a contender. There’s very little reason to have had him on this rebuilding roster for almost 3 years.
A first and a young player for him?? Bahahaha
More likely 1st OR a young player. Might be worth keeping an eye on Nuggets & Hyland.
It doesn’t say both….
Rockets will have to give up a whole lot more than two 2nd-round picks to trade Gordon, especially to a contender.
This is the 2nd full year tank for Houston. after a beyond poor 21-22 that Westbrick & Harden jumped ship before the turn of the year and bad trades for Oladipo and Wall hoping they might do something more than worst in the league. Soon to be 3 years in a row! A good vet don’t deserve that.
Gordon has been a good soldier, staying to help the Kids and not pushing a way out. They need to return the favour and move him to a good team so he can compete like the did with Tucker.
I called it years ago. Stone is a moron. This is a team that continues to have no plan other than hoping something magically breaks their way.
Go down to 7 11 and play the lotto like the rest of us peasants. Let someone else drive this collection of young talent.
Agreed. I keep hearing “this was Stone’s plan, tank until 23/24 then they’ll be pushing for PO. He knows what he’s doing”
Short of a lucky #1 or #2 in the draft & a huge trade for a star no one expected. This is pure crap and stone clearly isn’t good enough to structure a team.(Says it all giving up Allen & Lavert for post injury Oladipo & a late 1st.)
Short of very good drafting, what has he done in the trade market to improve the team? next to nothing.
Just to play devil’s advocate (not saying he should stay): isn’t very good drafting the only necessity now while they rebuild? Obviously you want to win trades by either acquiring good young players or draft capital, but as long as he’s hitting on draft picks, he’s building the core. Then can attack free agency to compete.
I don’t argue a big part of being a good GM is to draft well. Especially in a rebuild, But that’s a small part, which is usually heavily relied upon by scout opinions. Not really him going out and finding the Tari’s and Senguns
After 3 years of terrible play, he should be looking at developing the team. Not leave it to fall apart. There’s been no improvement at all and that’s due to the coaching staff. It’s on him to structure the coaching staff and so far he hasn’t bothered.
There’s a fine line between “Tanking” and just not improving. Rockets are the latter. Look at OKC the past few years, that’s tanking. This is complete failure to improve.
Yes can’t find the quote but someone asked him about expectations and he said “let’s see in 3, 4 years”. Imagine telling that to your boss lol
Bones Hyland and Zeke Nnaji to Minnesota for Naz Reid and Jordan McLaughlin. Would love that for the Nuggets
With the posts here I do agree on the following
EG needs to go. I feel for him at times with this team. He is trying to be a leader but just think he needs to find another team
Coaching staff stinks. Silas I do not think is strong for this team. 3 years in the cellar time to make a move. I like John Lucas II with this team. Defensive side may need change again there.
I see a lot of good from the players and not so good. Like not hitting threes. Turnovers even with Sengun. Free throws even. A game score at least one here recently difference was the free throws missed. Even though did not play great. Rotation of players in the game not great. Especially when you have key players out. Porter Jr, Sengun, Tate, EG, Greene. All because of injury, illness or they do not play back to back. Greene since returning seems off. Other players being used like Nix. Still trying to sort Bruno and Garuba out.
It looks like team is tanking due to want this guy whose name begins with a W. I heard Spurs want him too. I am not impressed with Stone so far. Yes he has picked some players that look good but seem to still need work.
Myself coaching staff needs to go at end of season. I want to start seeing something here of a set team. I just for next season at least look like we want to play and win and more things. At least be out of the cellar. Perhaps look towards being close to competing. Perhaps around the 10 seed or something. I think Fertitta wants to start seeing more from this team as well.