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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Ben DuBose

Reaction: Rockets trade Eric Gordon to Clippers for 2023 first-round draft swap

Eric Gordon Rockets Clippers John Wall James Harden Houston Salman Ali Milwaukee (Organization) Bucks Jackson Gatlin

Ever since the Rockets traded James Harden to Brooklyn in January 2021, veteran guard Eric Gordon hasn’t been in age alignment with the ongoing rebuilding movement in Houston.

Now, after years of rumors, a trade has finally reached the finish line. Gordon, now 34 years old, is headed to the Los Angeles Clippers in a three-team deal also involving the Memphis Grizzlies.

“Throughout six-and-a-half seasons, Eric did everything we asked of him and more, both on the court and in the community,” said general manager Rafael Stone. “We wish him nothing but the best and want him to know he’ll always have a home here in Houston.”

Though the Rockets acquired veterans Danny Green (from Memphis) and John Wall (from the Clippers) in the trade for salary matching purposes, both could be quickly waived, and neither was the primary incentive for the deal. The incentive was a 2023 first-round swap right acquired from the Clippers, which allows them to move up from the Milwaukee pick that Houston owns (currently at No. 28 in the order) to the Los Angeles selection (currently at No. 18 overall).

As for Gordon, the 2022-23 season was his seventh with the Rockets, where he was by far Houston’s longest-tenured player. In seven seasons with the franchise, the former NBA Sixth Man of the Year averaged 15.7 points (36.0% on 3-pointers) and 2.3 assists in 30.4 minutes while providing steady and capable defense, as well.

Most importantly, he routinely improved his play in the playoffs, where the Rockets consistently found themselves during Gordon’s first four seasons with the team. Postseason performance is no longer a relevant variable in Houston, given the youth movement, but it does explain his appeal to a likely playoff team, such as the Clippers.

Here’s a look at how fans and media members responded to the trade agreement in real-time, along with early analysis of the deal.

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