Eric Gordon Reportedly to Sign with Rockets: Latest Contract Details, Reaction

Former New Orleans Pelicans guard Eric Gordon agreed to terms Saturday on a four-year, $53 million deal with the Houston Rockets, per The Vertical's Adrian Wojnarowski and the Houston Chronicle's Jonathan Feigen. 

Gordon, 27, has had a rough few years in New Orleans, mainly due to injuries and the fact that he signed with the Phoenix Suns in 2012, only to see the Hornets match the restricted free agent's max offer sheet. Once thought to be a potential franchise cornerstone alongside Anthony Davis, Gordon never played in more than 64 games in a season for the Pelicans and was inconsistent when he was healthy.

This past season, he appeared in just 45 games, averaging 15.2 points, 2.7 assists and 1.0 steals per contest.

Gordon's injury was one of many the Pelicans had to deal with this season and a major factor in the team's disappointing 30-52 record just one season removed from a playoff berth. And Gordon's injury history, combined with the presence of Jrue Holiday and Tyreke Evans at guard, made him expendable in New Orleans.

According to John Reid of NOLA.com, the Pelicans tried to move him before the February trade deadline but didn't find any takers, so Gordon's time was numbered in New Orleans.

Houston's gamble, then, is really on Gordon's health. When he's able to remain on the court, he's a proven scorer who has averaged 20 or more points in a season twice; his career average is 16.6 points per game. But relying on him to play a full season is likely a fool's errand, and Gordon's best role at this point is perhaps coming off the bench as a sixth man capable of providing instant offense. 

Still, Gordon has the ability and upside to be a valuable, volume scorer for the Rockets and could be an important figure in the team's pursuit of the postseason. It's hardly the safest signing, but it could be a fruitful one if Gordon bucks his injury history and stays on the court.

The agreement with Gordon wasn't the only move Houston made Saturday, as Gordon's former Pelicans teammate Ryan Anderson reportedly agreed to a deal with the Rockets earlier in the day, per Wojnarowski.

Sports Illustrated's Ben Golliver noted how the team is doubling down on injury risk with the addition of both players:

CBSSports.com's Matt Moore doesn't think the Rockets have truly fixed their biggest issue:

"

I like all the Rockets signings but they just haven’t addressed any of the big problem. Their defense is still broken.

— Hardwood Paroxysm (@HPbasketball) July 3, 2016"

Bleacher Report's Ian Kenyon worries for how bad Houston's defense could be:

Sam Vecenie of CBSSports.com figures the team will at least be fun to watch:

In Houston, Gordon will form an interesting pairing with James Harden. The latter's ability to handle the rock means the duo could play on the court together. More than likely, Patrick Beverley and Harden will continue to start, with Gordon coming off the bench and earning big minutes as a sixth man.

Regardless, Gordon gives the Rockets another excellent scoring option in the backcourt.

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