Michael Pina of The Ringer proposed a trade with the Houston Rockets in an article titled “Nine Questions as NBA Trade Season Begins” on December 15.
The Lakers sending Patrick Beverley, Lonnie Walker IV, and draft picks to the Rockets in exchange for Eric Gordon?
“The Lakers can try to thread that needle by holding on to one of those picks and protecting the other (or bundling together a bunch of second-round picks), then attaching it to some lesser salary and making calls to some of those obvious sellers mentioned above. They’re rumored to have interest in (Bojan) Bogdanovic, but the better deal might be Patrick Beverley, Lonnie Walker IV, and some type of draft compensation for Eric Gordon, whose salary next year is non-guaranteed,” Pina wrote. “Gordon knows how to complement superstars (including Westbrook, during his final days as one in Houston), and he has playoff experience, a cannon, and the defensive wherewithal to close big games. This move wouldn’t make the Lakers a championship favorite, but Westbrook, Gordon, Austin Reaves, LeBron, and Davis is a lineup that can do some actual damage.”
According to CBA rules, the Lakers can trade Beverley, Walker IV, and draft picks to the Rockets for Gordon, whose salary of $20.9 million next season is non-guaranteed.
In September 2019, Gordon agreed to a four-year, $75.6 million veteran contract extension with the Rockets. Gordon will have earned more than $197 million in his career by the summer of 2024 if his 2023-24 salary is picked up.
Gordon Would Look Good Next to LeBron James and Anthony Davis
Gordon is a career 37.0% three-point shooter, making him a good fit alongside Lakers superstars LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Gordon leads the Rockets with 12.1 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game while shooting 43.4% from the field, 34.7% from three, and 86.8% from the free-throw line.
Gordon has tons of playoff experience. In 55 games, the Indiana product has averaged 16.0 points and 2.9 rebounds while shooting 36.0% on 3-pointers.
Lakers Should Try to Trade Beverley & Kendrick Nunn for Gordon
The Lakers should try to trade Beverley, Kendrick Nunn, and a draft pick to the Rockets in exchange for Gordon, while keeping Walker IV, who has been a consistent performer for the purple and gold.
That’s a given because both Beverley and Nunn are set to become unrestricted free agents at the end of the season, so the Rockets could be interested in them once their contracts expire.
