According to multiple reports published Saturday (by Michael Kaskey-Blomain of CBS Sports, Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer, and Dave Hardisty of ClutchFans), the 76ers remain interested in pursuing a trade with the Houston Rockets for veteran guard Eric Gordon.
News of the 76ers’ interest in Gordon was first reported on draft week in late June. Led by former Rockets GM Daryl Morey, the Sixers are clearly seeking out veterans from his Houston tenure, as shown by the additions of James Harden, Danuel House Jr., and PJ Tucker. Combine that with Houston’s rebuilding emphasis, and it’s easy to connect the dots involving a 33-year-old Gordon — who offers considerable “3&D” value as a 3-point shooter and tough defender. However, the devil is in the details.
Current Rockets general manager Rafael Stone reportedly wants a future first-round draft pick for Gordon that isn’t extremely late in the order, per Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. Yet, because of the NBA’s Stepien rule, the 76ers are not allowed to trade a first-round pick until 2029. Moreover, they also need to match salaries to absorb Gordon in a trade, since the Sixers are well above the NBA’s salary cap.
