Rockets Player: Eric Gordon, 6-foot-3 guard, 32 years old
2020-21 statistics in Houston: 17.8 points (43.3% FG, 32.9% on 3-pointers), 2.6 assists in 29.2 minutes per game
Professional Experience: 13 NBA seasons
Contract Status: Signed through at least 2022-23, will make $18.2 million next season
Gordon’s contract terms are friendlier to his team than it might first appear. The 2023-24 season is non-guaranteed and only activates if Gordon makes an All-Star team, or if his team wins the NBA title. The first scenario is practically impossible, at this point in his career, and the second is extremely unlikely (to put it mildly) with the rebuilding Rockets.
It could become a factor if Gordon is traded to a contender — but in that second scenario, it inherently means that his team just landed the massive financial windfall of winning a championship. That’s a “problem” that any NBA owner would love to have. Thus, for planning purposes, Gordon should be looked at as an expiring contract in 2022-23.
