The performance of the Rockets this season can be described as a low start and a high walk, because of the schedule, the Rockets did not start well, and even had a 15-game losing streak. Just when everyone thought that the Rockets' strength and performance this season were not as good as last season,Silas's team gave people a surprise, the Rockets have won 8 games in the last 10 games, and the Rockets have also won a beautiful 7-game winning streak, which not only set a new record, but also boosted the confidence of the Rockets players.
If the Rockets' most surprising player in this wave of winning streaks is 25-year-old rookie shooter Matthews, then the Rockets' best-performing veteran during this period is naturally 32-year-old Eric Gordon.
We know that in the Rockets' 7-game winning streak, Gordon can wander freely in 3 positions, which position Silas needs him to play, and Gordon can immediately play a first-class performance in this position. On the shooting guard, Gordon's three-point shooting rate is as high as 44%, and in the point guard position, Gordon's tandem ability and passing ability are also first-class, even in the small forward position, Gordon can become the Rockets' best flanking defender and three-point shooter.
So are the Rockets "worthy" of Gordon? It's clear that keeping Gordon, 32, on the Rockets isn't fair enough for him. The Rockets have sent veteran players like Harden and Tucker to championship-fighting teams, and Gordon's stay with the Rockets is just a waste of time, and it will not help his ideal of winning the championship. Therefore, sending Gordon away when he is in good shape is the best choice.
The Rockets didn't want to force Gordon, and Gordon didn't say they had to stay with the Rockets and not leave. As long as a team gives a reasonable offer, they can take Gordon away — and of course the Rockets will not send the meritorious guard Gordon to a non-championship team with no future, which is a prerequisite.
According to Rockets reporter Jonathan Fagan, the Rockets are happy with Gordon's performance this season, and they also recognize his professionalism, work ethic and influence on young players. But if the team that wants to get Gordon doesn't give the Rockets a suitable offer, the Rockets won't send Gordon away right away, and Stone will continue to wait until a reasonable offer appears.
This is probably also the Rockets' final hole card for Gordon's trade. Now, Gordon averaged 15.1 points, 2.9 assists and 1.9 rebounds this season, shooting 48.4 percent from the field, 44.8 percent from three-point range and 71.9 percent from the free throws. Compared with when Gordon won the best sixth man of the season, the current Gordon has not only not declined in form, but also his experience and comprehensiveness have improved. Although I don't know how many strong teams have interest in Gordon, if the Rockets are willing to send Gordon away, I believe most of the playoff teams in the league will come to the door to inquire.
Gordon is at the peak of the value of the transaction, coupled with the Rockets' seven-game winning streak and publicity, which makes the Rockets more cautious about trading Gordon. Although the Rockets' asking price for Gordon was not announced, a first-round draft pick is essential, and even the Rockets can completely let the opposing team add a potential newcomer to package the transaction, after all, with PJ Tucker's experience of successfully helping the Bucks win the championship, Gordon's role and ability are not inferior to Tucker,So the Rockets have sufficient confidence to ask the other party to send the equivalent or even "super value" chips in exchange for round face Deng!
Otherwise, the Rockets will not easily send Gordon away, after all, the Rockets can afford to wait, and Gordon did not have to leave Houston like Harden last season. By the trade deadline, some teams that can't wait will take the initiative to increase their chips, and the Rockets can choose the most generous chips among these teams and send Gordon to this team, of course, provided that Gordon is willing to go to this team, and this team must also be a championship level, at least a playoff level team.