At 32 years old, veteran NBA guard Eric Gordon may not be an ideal fit for the rebuilding timeline of the Houston Rockets (16-54). However, 25-year-old center Christian Wood certainly still could be.
That’s why, heading into the 2021 offseason, general manager Rafael Stone isn’t likely to trade Wood, per ESPN’s Tim MacMahon. However, Gordon could be on the block. Here’s a sampling of MacMahon’s comments on the latest Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective podcast:
I would be surprised if that happens (a Christian Wood trade). When you get down to it, there is always pride involved. They are happy about Christian Wood. …
If they win the lottery, and they’re getting Cade Cunningham — and you think he can be a LaMelo Ball type of impact player right away — then you pair him with Christian Wood and roll along. ….
Can they get something for Gordon on the trade market this offseason? We’ll see about that.
Wood has averaged 21.0 points (51.4% FG, 37.4% on 3-pointers) and 9.6 rebounds in 32.3 minutes per game this season. Gordon averaged 17.8 points and 2.6 assists in 29.2 minutes per game, and his 57.3% clip on two-pointers was the best of his 13-year NBA career.
Gordon is owed nearly $38 million over the next two seasons, while Wood will make approximately $28 million over that same span.
MacMahon also reported that contract buyout discussions would likely happen at some point between the Rockets and veteran guard John Wall. With nearly $92 million owed to Wall over the next two seasons, that figure is likely too large for trades to be realistic.
