Cleveland Cavaliers Receive: G Eric Gordon
Houston Rockets Receive: G Ricky Rubio, F Dylan Windler, HOU 2022 2nd Round Pick (via CLE), GSW 2024 2nd Round Pick (Top-55 Protected)
Expectations in a trade for Eric Gordon should be low from the Houston Rockets’ standpoint, even though he has played well this season. Any team that trades for Gordon would be doing the rebuilding Rockets a favor by moving his contract, which is why they most likely will not get a first-round pick for him.
Trading Gordon and getting Ricky Rubio in return does not help the Rockets one-bit this season, but Rubio is in the final year of his contract and is basically a “salary matcher” in this deal. Instead of being tied down to nearly $60M through 2023, the Rockets would be responsible for paying Rubio and then they would have a ton of cap space to use how they see fit in the offseason.
As for Dylan Windler, he is a former first-round pick that is only 25-years-old, but he has had trouble remaining healthy. Since being drafted 26th overall in 2019, Windler has played in just 58 games for the Cleveland Cavaliers and has averaged 4.0 points, 2.7 rebounds and has shot 36.1% from three-point range.
Looked at as a three-point shooting threat on the wing, Windler still has some value attached to his name and could be a cheap, low-risk asset that the Houston Rockets are willing to add to their young core for now.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Cavs Could Trade Ricky Rubio For Rockets’ Eric Gordon?
Eric Gordon is not a game-changing talent and is not going to make the Cavaliers a real contending threat in the Eastern Conference this season, but he would provide some much-needed stability at the shooting guard position and he would take a lot of pressure off of Darius Garland to do everything for this team.
With both Sexton and Rubio out, Garland has had to be the primary ball-handler and facilitator for the Cavaliers, which has worked out, but the Cavs do need to try and get him some help so the young guard does not get worn out and injured.
While he is not really known to be a primary ball-handler and facilitator, Gordon has been a terrific passer in Houston this season and knows what it takes to win games. Kevin Love has been a surprising, positive asset as a veteran in the frontcourt for Cleveland this season and Eric Gordon could be yet another steady veteran presence for this team in the backcourt.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Cavs Could Trade Ricky Rubio For Rockets’ Eric Gordon?
Ricky Rubio has meant a lot to the Cavaliers this season and it is definitely sad to see him out for the rest of the season after playing so well, but Cleveland’s only route to adding talent to their roster is by leveraging his $17.8M in trade talks and trying to give a team incentive to take him for the rest of the season.
By surrendering a former first-round pick and two second-round picks, the Cleveland Cavaliers could add a major upgrade to their roster on the perimeter.
