Christian Petersen - Getty Images
It's in Lawler's Law's Daily Clipper column (here), but I thought it deserved a home of its own on the front page. Apparently Eric Gordon refused New Orleans Hornets latest contract extension. The offer was reportedly four years for around 51 million, which is around 12 million (plus raises) a year. Gordon will become a restricted free agent in the summer.
Many of us, myself included, were initially horrified when Gordon was sent away in the Chris Paul deal. But this probably proves what we suspected, that Gordon and his agent might overestimate Gordon's value. The max for an RFA will be around 58 million for four years. With Paul and Blake Griffin requiring max extensions in the summer of 2013, there's almost no way the Clips could have kept Gordon.
Is Gordon worth the max? At his best... yes, he might be the best young two guard in the league. But right now it looks like he might miss half the season. I was surprised NOH went as high as they did. Will someone (Indiana?) pony up the big bucks?
0 recs | 54 comments
I don't think he deserves the max
Something like 5 years/60millions sounds more than fair to him.
I’m glad it’s Hornets’ problem now.
paris clips man - January 26, 2012
I don't think anyone other than the Hornets can offer him 5 years
bestclipfan - January 26, 2012
RFA is the way to go for him
It’s hard to establish his value right now. Only played 2 games, and limited last year also. NOH is saying: His market is low, if he signs for $51M, great. If he wants $58M, let’s wait until he hits the RFA market and if market says $58M, then we can sign him for that in July. No need to offer him that much now. NOH has a legitimate reason for offering only $51M (i.e. haven’t seen him play). I think they’re playing this right.
Thretch - January 26, 2012
The photo above is a rarity
EJ in a Hornet jersey … should be a collectible!
Thretch - January 26, 2012
I think he's going to Indy or Chicago
I could see Chicago using amnesty on Boozer, putting Taj Gibson at the 4 and going after EJ.
The more I read about EJ’s agents’ decisions regarding his contract it’s becoming increasingly clear that Olhsey wanted nothing to do with over-paying what’s becoming an injury prone guard. We’ve seen that show before (see: Baron Davis) and last I checked it didn’t go so well.
yaggiefresh - January 26, 2012
no way they do that
Why would they risk losing Boozer just to have NOH match the offer.
XXDC2XX - January 26, 2012
Will NOH match though?
Who knows..
UC.Clipper - January 26, 2012
of course they will
EJ is the main piece in the deal for Paul, no way they give him away so early, not to mention he is a top 5 SG.
XXDC2XX - January 27, 2012
Indy has a ton of cash to make this play
banandy - January 26, 2012
I would love EJ to end up in Indy
and they do have a load of space. I really like this Indy team this year and having a scoring option like EJ on top of Granger, Hibbert, West, Collison, Hansborough, George and Jones – that is a formidable team.
ClippersUK - January 26, 2012
The way that team is playing...
Gordon would be a great addition. If they could somehow get rid of Granger, adding Gordon and moving Paul to small forward would make them a better and much younger team.
Steve Perrin - January 26, 2012
Granger's not Bad
He just makes #1 guy money when he’s a #2. Regardless, if he plays enough games for NO to prove his knee is okay, they will probably match.
oasisman - January 26, 2012
sorry, your post below answers my above comment.
oasisman - January 26, 2012
EJ has only played in 198 out of his team’s 264 games or 75% since he has been in the NBA.
Yet whoever signs him has to pay him for 82 games.
Doesn’t seem like a Max candidate or anything to close to it.
Buddahfan - January 26, 2012
that's like teachers complaining about their salaries when they get summers off and winter vacation
not to mention jewish holidays…
banandy - January 26, 2012
really? lol
dulciusXasperis - January 26, 2012
There is a lot I want to reply about this
But this is definitely not the place, plus if you can’t say anything nice…
Just know that is a very ignorant comment
MikeV7297 - January 26, 2012
Careful Banandy you do not know what water you are venturing into
bestclipfan - January 26, 2012
sorry, tongue in cheek comment by mean...
i’m married to a HS teacher!
banandy - January 26, 2012
Glad for your tongue
I was about to post a rant in response. Teachers are definitely underpaid and underappreciated.
ganima - January 26, 2012
agree - my wife and I talk a lot about how to fix the system...
with that said, I do enjoy teasing my wife about her “tough” life of not having to work during winter vacation.
banandy - January 26, 2012
NO has all the leverage here
They can give him a fair market offer, and should a team come in and give him an offer sheet, they have plenty of cap space to match. It’d be stupid for any team to give him an offer sheet as they should expect an instant match.
Best best for any team trying to get EJ would be to wait until he becomes UFA and hesistate on giving any offer while he’s restricted. Besides, he has to prove that he can play a full 82 games.
clipperbran - January 26, 2012
One thing to note
the league office had the deal and did not approve NO to offer it to Godon until I think Tuesday of this week, so there was never even any room for a negotiation because he only had until Wednesday to say yes or no.
jtballard2 - January 26, 2012
4 years 58 million for EJ is a terrible deal
I think 4 years 51 million is already a stretch considering how much Gallinari just resigned for (4 year 42 million).
ClipperChuck - January 26, 2012
can EJ come back to the clips some how??
Goosebumpz - January 26, 2012
i'm a big fan of EJ
but the money just won’t work
zac4president - January 26, 2012
EJ is worth $10-12 mill per year. Way to injury prone to get the max
kingjames10 - January 26, 2012
+1
Buddahfan - January 26, 2012
In EJ's mind he is a number one option star
I used to feel he could get a hometwon max contract offer from his hometown Pacers but no longer think that way with the emergence of their current team. I think the Hornets offer is a fair one.
PV Mike - January 26, 2012
Well i hope he signs with Indiana.
They’ll pay him right probably upwards of 13m-14m a year, and the fans will treat him right. They have been clamoring for EJ since he came into the league. If they sign him then they could move Granger out for some decent value. Still hes an RFA and thats all assuming NOH doesnt match
ClipperFon - January 26, 2012
Speak of the devil
MikeWellsNBA Mike Wells
Mike Wells: The Pacers don’t usually go after restricted free agents, but you can expect them to pursue Gordon this summer. Twitter
ClipperFon - January 26, 2012
Paul George's Game Is Progressing Nicely
The have Hill behind him in the depth chart.
I doubt the Pacers will fork over millions for EJ when they have George. Right now when he is on the court EJ is a better scorer but George fits in very nicely with the Pacers.
I doubt the Pacers make EJ and offer
Buddahfan - January 26, 2012
It's Granger
I see Gordon as a replacement for Granger as the number one scoring option on the perimeter, and George moves to the three. I assume they’d love to do that, but I don’t see how they get rid of Granger.
Steve Perrin - January 26, 2012
I wonder if something like Josh Smith straight up for Danny Granger would interest both parties?
Smith’s contract is only tied down for 1 more year after this and having him alongside Hibbert with George, EJ and Collison seems a nice mix of players.
For Atlanta, they get a scoring threat back in if they decide to amnesty the terrible J.Johnson contract, allows them to ship the terrible Marvin Williams and gives them a core of Teague, Horford and Granger, mixing it up a little as they are headed for that dangerous low playoff team that never gets better and can’t make a move.
If they amnesty Johnson in the future, they have very little money committed so taking a 2 year flyer on Granger and other FA’s as opposed to losing Josh Smith for nothing would be a calculated gamble (maybe not a great one though after saying all that!).
ClippersUK - January 26, 2012
That Is Interesting
George is tall enough to play the three, but still probably a bit light in the pants.
Granger is not shooting very good this season 37% from the field
Granger has two years left on his contract at $13 and $14 million
So money wise it wouldn’t cost the Pacers much if anything to replace Granger with EJ
Buddahfan - January 26, 2012
they could do but they have enough space
to keep granger, gordon and hibbert
ClippersUK - January 26, 2012
love gordon
but at this time, he’s just not worth that money.
this paul deal is looking better and better with gordon’s agent demanding more and the wolves improving so much
shap - January 26, 2012
Michael Eaves
Anyone else notice the gaffes Michael Eaves made coming back from commercial in the second half last night? Talking about league news, he said that Gordon did not get the extension and therefore would be an UNrestricted free agent (wrong, he’ll be restricted) and then he said that Love signed for 4 years, $160MM (!!) which is only off by about $100MM.
Steve Perrin - January 26, 2012
eaves comes off as kind of a robot to me
just going through the motions, doesn’t rally matter which team he’s covering
shap - January 26, 2012
lol $160 mil
Pujols plays for the T-Wolves now…
Erik O - January 26, 2012
Maybe he just reads anything off the teleprompter
like one Ron Burgundy? Go **** yourself San Diego.
ClipperChuck - January 26, 2012
LOL
Way to keep it “classy” with the asterisks, CC.
boltsfan21 - January 27, 2012
It could be any 4 letter word though
go snog yourself San Diego.
ClipperChuck - January 27, 2012
Hey CC
Go **** yourself.
Love, was the hidden word.
Love.
Erik O - January 27, 2012
Yes, I also notice Kiki Vanderweghe is a gun for hire
running back and forth between the Clippers and Lakers postgame TV crews.
PV Mike - January 26, 2012
i think fox sports is sort of consolidating talking heads because the Lakers are leaving soon....
banandy - January 26, 2012
Good point.
Am I the only one who thinks Vandeweghe is dry as dust? And does he add anything? Every time Milph tosses to him I want to go get a sandwich. And Blaine Danton is the captain of the captain obvious patrol.
John Raffo - January 26, 2012
Blaine?
I like Dain, I wonder how many players know he’s an Olympic gold medalist, haha. Kevin Love should’ve recruited him to play volleyball with him this past summer.
osamu - January 26, 2012
I about fell over when I read this.
Looked it up and yep he did win in volleyball in the Olympics and played hoops in high school. Seems like a good guy but by the questions he asks I did not even think he was an athlete.
PV Mike - January 27, 2012
Yeah. One day Norm Nixon was on there.
Lawler 4ever - January 26, 2012
I heard EJ wanted Westbrook money - 5 years, 80m.
The Chris Paul trade looks better everyday. Hornets just announced he’s going to miss ANOTHER six weeks. Wow, I can’t believe he’s this fragile.
However, I hope Indy swoops in and gives EJ whatever he wants. EJ will be happy, the Pacers will be happy (EJ will be a top draw there as strange as that sounds) and we get to enjoy more CP3.
Great all around, I’ll root for the Pacers.
Gordon for President - January 26, 2012
actually, Indy vs Chicago could be a great little rivalry there
link
banandy - January 26, 2012
wouldnt be suprised to see EJ sign with DRose in Chi town
big0lbad - January 26, 2012
not anytime soon unless thru trade...
banandy - January 26, 2012
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