With the Houston Rockets entering full rebuild mode following their selections in the 2021 NBA Draft, the future of veteran sharpshooter Eric Gordon is in the air.
The Rockets picked Jalen Green at shooting guard No.2 overall, and to join third-year guard Kevin Porter Jr. in the backcourt.
After the team announced they and point guard John Wall would work on a deal to get him out of Houston, many wonder if that is where the former Sixth Man of The Year is also headed.
Up to this point, Gordon hasn’t requested a trade.
However, he has said that he is open to being traded to “a more favorable situation,” according to The Athletic’s Kelly Iko.
“They always know, and it’s definitely not easy for my position,” Gordon says about Houston understanding how he feels.
“But my ultimate goal is to just go out there and play, help, show that I’m healthy, and gravitate to these guys to get better.”
Despite all of the roster, coaching, and upper management changes, Gordon hasn’t signaled that he is itching to bolt town.
In fact, the Rockets reportedly would ‘love’ for Gordon to stay and provide a veteran presence to a team full of youth, per Iko.
Gordon isn’t exactly used to being vocal since he has played under the likes of James Harden, Chris Paul, and Russell Westbrook since joining the Rockets in 2016.
“When you’re winning, you don’t have to be vocal,” Gordon says.
“It’s just all about coming in and doing your job. That’s the easy part about being on good teams. When you’re on teams that are young and rebuilding, you have to give a lot more — a lot more. Like I said, I’m open to winning, and when you’re open to winning, of course, you’re going to do whatever it takes to help people. It’s always good to help people and be all incorporated into winning.”
The Rockets and Gordon seem to be on good terms, and whatever transpires this upcoming season will not cause a rift between both parties.
If Gordon can come back from missing 45 games last season and average 17 points off the bench, there will be plenty of suitors calling Houston to take him off their hands if the Rockets decide they no longer need him.
