Tumultuous Season For Rockets’ Eric Gordon Continues - Forbes

HOUSTON, TEXAS - JANUARY 31: Eric Gordon #10 of the Houston Rockets and Russell Westbrook #0 react ... [+] in the second half against the Dallas Mavericks at Toyota Center on January 31, 2020 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)

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2019-2020 has been the most tumultuous season of Eric Gordon’s Houston Rockets tenure. He’s both started and come off the bench, appearing in just 30 of the team’s 58 games played thus far. His 37% shooting percentage is a career low. His 33% shooting percentage from long range is by far the lowest of his time with the Rockets and his 15.2 points per game scoring average is also a low.

Last offseason, the Rockets and Gordon agreed to a four-year, $75.6 million extension which could possibly keep him in Houston through the 2023-2024 season through his age 34 season. The contract is guaranteed for three seasons at $54.5 million, with salaries of $16.9 million, $18.2 million, and $19.6 million. If Gordon were to make the All-Star team or if the Rockets were to win the NBA title, the non-guaranteed season would pay Gordon $20.9 million.

When former Rockets center Clint Capela was re-signed two summers ago, after negotiations which carried later into the offseason than expected, many believed that as an asset on a team-friendly contract, Capela could be used in a trade down the road. The thinking was that for a team like the Rockets that was hopelessly over the salary cap, the avenue to improvement was trades, not free agent signings. To that end, they couldn’t afford to lose their own players. The same logic would seem to apply for Gordon.

In theory, Gordon is the ideal fit in Houston’s system, on both ends of the floor. He has range from several feet beyond the arc, which makes him a great complement to Russell Westbrook, and he can also create off the dribble for himself. His stout build also allows him to defend bigger players inside in the Rockets’ switch-heavy defensive scheme. But the Rockets have also had success this season in Gordon’s absence.

In four games in October, Gordon averaged 12.3 points on 32.1% shooting from the floor and 26.8% on 3’s; in five November games, Gordon averaged 9.8 points on 29.6% shooting from the floor and 30.3% on 3’s; in two December games, Gordon averaged 16.0 points on 52.6% shooting from the floor and 58.3% from ‘3’; in thirteen January games, Gordon averaged 19.5 points on 40.8% from the floor and 36.4% on 3’s; and in six February games, Gordon averaged 12.0 points on 34.2% from the floor and 21.4% on 3’s.

When Gordon has been healthy, head coach Mike D’Antoni has alternated between having Gordon start and using the taller and longer Danuel House Jr. at small forward. After trading Capela and going small full-time, House’s size has been a bonus for a team in need of weakside help.

Overall on the season, the Rockets have been a -5.4 with Gordon on the floor. That’s in sharp contrast to the last two seasons when he was a +8.3 and +5.8 when on the floor.

In 193 possessions, the Rockets’ intended starting lineup of Gordon, James Harden, Westbrook, P.J. Tucker, and Capela was a -34.8, scoring only 83.4 points per 100 possessions, and giving up 118.2 points per 100 possessions. Much of this came before the knee procedure Gordon underwent at the start of the year, while the guard was battling through pain.

However, in 36 possessions, the quintet of Gordon/Harden/Westbrook/Tucker/Covington has been a +36.8, scoring 111.1 points per 100 possessions, and giving up just 74.3 points per 100 possessions. If swapping out Gordon for House, in 189 possessions, the quintet has a difference of +29.6, scoring 125.9 points per 100 possessions and giving up just 96.3 points per 100 possessions. That is to say, with House in the lineup in place of Gordon, the team hasn’t been as potent overall, but its a significantly greater sample size.

Right now, the Rockets just hope Gordon’s body is right prior to the postseason. Despite his inconsistencies, he’s the team’s best perimeter defender against guards. Last year, he was the primary defender against the Jazz’s Donovan Mitchell who struggled mightily in the matchup. He’s also playoff tested and has performed well in big games.

If things go south though, with his reasonable salary, like Capela, Gordon too could be a valuable trade chip to use in the summer to improve the team. The Rockets have already gotten accustomed to life without Gordon this season.