Eric Gordon: Latest Contract News, Rumors, Speculation on Pelicans Star's Future
New Orleans Pelicans shooting guard Eric Gordon has been hounded by injuries throughout his career, but a strong flourish to his 2014-15 season has put him in position to evaluate his value on the open market. However, he has reportedly decided to opt into his player option for next season.
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Gordon Reportedly to Opt Into Contract
Wednesday, June 17
Gordon has elected to opt into his 2015-16 player option worth roughly $15.5 million, according to Eric Pincus of the Los Angeles Times.
John Reid of NOLA.com added that Gordon won't make an official decision until June 21 and noted the deadline is June 29.
RealGM.com's Shams Charania reported on June 16 that Gordon is likely to play out the final year of his deal but hasn't made a firm decision just yet:
"Despite leaning strongly toward exercising his player option for next season, Eric Gordon has scoured the NBA market for a potential long-term deal out of New Orleans, a league source told RealGM.
Gordon has expressed excitement about the Pelicans’ future, which includes the hiring of Alvin Gentry and his likely return. The head coach led in the Phoenix Suns’ recruitment to sign Gordon to a free-agent offer sheet in 2012.
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Charania added that Gordon has explored the viability of signing a four- or five-year offer with another franchise.
Although Gordon missed a chunk of time with a left-shoulder injury this past season, he provided the Pelicans with a steady three-point shooting presence all year long. In 61 appearances, he shot a career-high 44.8 percent from three. And over the course of the Pelicans' first-round sweep at the hands of the Golden State Warriors, Gordon knocked down 40.6 percent of his long-range buckets.
"This is the guy that we thought we were going to have fortunately; he had so many injuries and it was hard for him to get the work in," former Pelicans coach Monty Williams said in March, according to the Reid. "I think you are starting to see a part of it but not all of it."
Should Gordon opt into the final year of his deal before an impending camp spike, he could flourish in new head coach Alvin Gentry's uptempo offense that figures to spread the wealth.
However, if Gordon opts out in a surprise move, the Pelicans could be replete with a nice gob of cap space. At present, the team is projected to have a shade over $40 million in guaranteed salaries on its books entering this summer. If Gordon opts in, that number will jump considerably.
During an offseason that's already been loaded with change in New Orleans, Gordon's decision looms as another seminal moment for the Pelicans as they seek to craft a championship contender around Anthony Davis.
