Danny Granger for Eric Gordon: Should Indiana Pacers Pursue Deal?

Since Hornets guard Eric Gordon didn't receive a contract extension before last Wednesday's deadline, rumors about his departure from New Orleans have been swirling.

The main rumored destination has been the Indiana Pacers, for numerous reasons:

1. Gordon is a native of Indianapolis.

2. The Pacers have the financial flexibility to give Gordon an extension.

3. If the Pacers sought to trade for him, they have desirable trade bait.

So, will we see Gordon in a Pacers uniform anytime soon?  

According to Yahoo's Marc Spears, the Pacers will make a run for Gordon during the offseason.

But should they wait until then? 

It's possible the Pacers would consider trading for Gordon prior to then, but the key to such a trade would likely be Danny Granger. 

Are the Pacers willing to part ways with their versatile veteran small forward?

While it may be hard for Indiana fans to see Granger leave town, the truth is that acquiring Gordon is too alluring of an opportunity to neglect. It's at least a trade worth inspecting.

Gordon would give Indiana a young All-Star caliber player on the wing. Their lineup would be incredibly youthful and scary for Eastern Conference foes: Darren Collison, Gordon, Paul George, David West and Roy Hibbert.  

One may argue that such a lineup isn't any better than what they currently possess with Granger. But for the future, this lineup has potential to do damage for years. Gordon is a budding superstar who averaged 22.3 PPG last season as a 22-year-old.  

Granger can surely light up the scoreboard as well (he averaged 25.8 PPG in 2008-09), but while only being 28, his numbers have been steadily decreasing the past couple seasons (this year he's averaging just 17.2 PPG on a meager 38.3 percent shooting from the field). It seems as if his ceiling has been reached.  

Gordon, on the other hand, is already a top-tier player and still possesses an extreme upside.  

It's safe to say that a team would rather have Gordon, if they could choose between the two.  

Would the Pacers be wise to propose Granger, A.J. Price and a draft pick or two (if needed) to acquire Gordon's skills for the future?

I argue yes, mostly because, come the offseason, Gordon is a restricted free agent and the Hornets will very likely match offers made by other teams. Or, Gordon may find a destination other than his hometown to be more attractive.

This is why the Pacers should pull the trigger and try to acquire Gordon now. He's the perfect fit for their up and coming team.  

Plus, losing Granger won't hurt as much as one might think. George is showing loads of promise and would thrive playing alongside a shooting guard as talented as Gordon.  

This is a deal that may seem premature, but Indiana fans need to think about the long term. Adding the hometown guard Gordon to the Pacers already promising nucleus is an opportunity too fitting to pass up.