The Phoenix Suns may, at least for the moment, be out of the running for Brooklyn Nets superstar Kevin Durant. But that hasn’t stop them from being linked with other trade targets as the offseason progresses.
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst recently reported that the Suns could be interested in one of Chris Paul’s former teammates at the Houston Rockets.
The Phoenix Suns have been linked with former Sixth Man of the Year and Three-Point Contest Champion Eric Gordon.
Gordon, a 13-year NBA veteran, has constantly been linked with a move away from Houston since the departure of James Harden over 18 months ago. Still, his experienced presence has been a positive for the rebuilding Rockets.
The 33-year-old shot a career-high 47.5% from the floor last season, including an incredibly impressive 41.2% from three-point range. Before that, Gordon was a key component to four straight playoff runs between 2017 and 2020.
But while he remains a high-level player capable of being a difference-maker, the Rockets may look to move him for adequate compensation. Windhorst said as much on NBA Today –
"“Keep an eye on the Houston Rockets. They’ve already done one deal this offseason. Look for a little bit of an Eric Gordon sweepstakes in play. A couple of teams that I’ve heard interested are the Philadelphia 76ers and the Phoenix Suns. You have Chris Paul looking for a potential reunion with his former teammate there”."
Gordon would be a fantastic inclusion to the Suns roster, adding another player who can play 20+ minutes in a playoff rotation. He’s an elite three-point shooter who’s also capable of making plays off the dribble, and while he’s by no means a great defender, his strong frame means he can compete on that end.
The seventh overall pick in 2008, Gordon is set to make $19.6 million next season, with a non-guaranteed $20.9 million contract the following season. This could make the below deal fairly straight-forward for both teams.
"Phoenix Receives: Eric GordonHouston Receives: Landry Shamet, Dario Saric, Unprotected 2025 First-Round Pick"
While it’s a lot to pay for a bench piece, Gordon could project as the missing piece for the Suns as they push for an NBA championship next season.