Eric Gordon – Houston Rockets
He is about to be 33-years-old and is on the back-end of his career, but Eric Gordon has proven that he is still an effective scorer and maybe he can solve all the problems for the Pacers right now. Obviously depth is a concern for them and finding consistent scorers is also a problem, which is why Gordon could help the Pacers avoid having to rebuild.
Now in his 14th season in the NBA, Eric Gordon has proven time-and-time again that he is a consistent scorer either in or out of the starting lineup and so far this season, the veteran wing is averaging 14.7 points on 47.7% from the floor, 43.4% from three-point range.
Indiana currently ranks 21st in bench points per game and while they are 10th in offensive rating and 14th in defensive rating, they have really struggled to find productive scorers outside of their starting rotation. Rookie Chris Duarte has shined at times, but adding Eric Gordon on the wing gives the Pacers an experienced player that has been to the playoffs before.
Gordon knows what it takes to win in this league and has been with some really talented Rockets teams over the years, which is why his experiences could be invaluable to a team like Indiana. They really do not have much playoff experience on their roster and while he does not make them a contender, Eric Gordon could be a key secondary talent that helps elevate the Pacers back into the playoff conversation.
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He is making over $18M this season and is under contract for two more years, which could be problematic, but so is missing the playoffs for a second consecutive season. If they want to avoid a rebuild entirely, the Pacers best chances of doing so are by adding Gordon because of what he can do for this team both on and off the floor.
Rockets’ head coach Stephen Silas has called Eric Gordon a fantastic veteran leader multiple times this season and this is something the Pacers really need. They do not have a talent problem, nor a coaching problem, but a leadership problem within their locker room.
Steph Curry and Draymond Green are the leaders of the Golden State Warriors. Chris Paul and Jae Crowder are the emotional leaders of the Phoenix Suns. Jimmy Butler, Kyle Lowry and P.J. Tucker are the veteran leaders of the Miami Heat.
Who are the leaders of this Pacers team? Maybe it is Malcolm Brogdon and Domantas Sabonis, but we just do not see any leadership or accountability with this team whatsoever.
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Bringing in Eric Gordon gives them another voice to listen to and someone who can lead by example. Gordon has been to the playoffs multiple times and was on the verge of making the NBA Finals, which is why he really could be a player that can save the Pacers season.
He can produce on the floor, be a voice of reason in the locker room and someone the coaching staff can depend on in any role required, which is why he is worth the investment. The Pacers showed interest in Eric Gordon during the offseason and it should not be a surprise to see them interested in him again.
