Let’s start with Gordon, who has been a regular on this list ever since the Rockets began their rebuilding process. Gordon is an experienced veteran who has played 55 career playoff games, averaging 16.0 PPG and shooting 36% from 3. He also has a non-guaranteed salary of $20.9 million for next season that becomes guaranteed only if the Rockets (or the team that trades for Gordon) win the title.
There are three big questions the Rockets have to ask themselves when discussing any potential Gordon trade.
1. Is the culture of the locker room at risk if Gordon is moved?
The Rockets have the second-youngest roster in the NBA right now, and the fourth youngest since 1998-99. Gordon and Boban Marjanovic are the only two players in their 30s, and Gordon recently voiced his displeasure with the development of the young roster.
“There’s no improvement,” he said. “Same old thing all year. We have a small margin for error. It’s a lot of things. It’s mindset. You got to play for one another. Do what’s right by your teammates. If you do that, it’d be more fun. You give yourself a better chance to win.”
The Rockets are once again last in the Western Conference and have gone 43-145 since trading James Harden to Brooklyn in 2021.
2. If a first-round pick is not in play, is moving Gordon a nonstarter?
There are only nine teams (Indiana, Memphis, New Orleans, New York, Oklahoma City, Orlando, Phoenix, San Antonio and Toronto) that control all their first-round picks in the next seven years.
Gordon is averaging a career-low 12.2 points per game, shooting 42.7% from the field and 35.2% from 3. Getting a team to give up a first-round pick for him might be difficult.
3. Does Gordon have more value next season with Houston or in a trade package?
Because his contract is non-guaranteed next season, Gordon would count as $0 in outgoing salary in a trade made over the summer (he counts as $19.6 million, his current salary, for any trade made before the deadline).
As Adrian Wojnarowski reported, Harden would have interest in a return to Houston if contract talks broke down with Philadelphia this offseason. Houston is projected to have at least $40 million in cap space, even including Gordon’s non-guaranteed salary for next season.
Meanwhile, Martin has outplayed the four-year, $6.1 million contract that he signed in 2020. He’s averaging a career-high 11.0 points per game this season in a career-high 24.6 minutes per night. He is currently eligible to sign a four-year, $58 million extension, but that would cut significantly into Houston’s cap space this summer.
Martin currently has a $1.9 million team option for 2023-24 and will become a restricted free agent if it is declined. Houston could also pick up the option, which would make Martin an unrestricted free agent in 2024.
Because of the six-month extension restriction, Martin is not eligible to sign an extension if he is traded to a team at the deadline.
Front-office trade history: Rockets general manager Rafael Stone has made 16 trades since he took over in October 2020. Five of those trades, including the James Harden blockbuster in January 2021, have occurred during the regular season. The Rockets received four first-round picks, the right to swap firsts in four seasons and Victor Oladipo, Dante Exum and Rodions Kurucs. The Rockets eventually drafted Tari Eason with the Nets’ pick this past June. There are two unprotected firsts (2024 and 2026) and three swap rights (2023, 2025 and 2027) that remain outstanding from the trade.
Last regular-season trade: Houston traded Daniel Theis to the Celtics for Dennis Schroder, Bruno Fernando and Enes Freedom at last year’s deadline.
Trade we would like to see: Kenyon Martin Jr. to Phoenix for a 2023 top-14-protected first. If not conveyed, Houston will receive 2023 and 2025 second-round picks from the Suns.
Trade exceptions: $3.9 million
Cash available: $6.4 million (to send and receive)
Salary info and restrictions:
The Rockets are $14.4 million below the luxury tax.
Because of the Bruno Fernando signing, Houston is hard capped. The Rockets are $20.6 million below the ceiling.
Kevin Porter Jr. has a poison-pill restriction in his contract. For trade purposes, his contract counts as $3.2 million in outgoing salary and $15.2 million in incoming salary for the acquiring team.
Draft assets:
The Rockets are owed two unprotected first-round picks from Brooklyn (2024 and 2026). They also have the right to swap firsts in 2023, 2025 and 2027.
Houston owes Oklahoma City top-four-protected first-round picks in both 2024 and 2026. The Thunder also have the right to swap firsts with Houston (top-10 protected) in 2025.
The Rockets have seven second-round picks available to use in a trade.
crushsuitandtie
Houston Rockets
Trade meter: 6
What to watch: Eric Gordon and Kenyon Martin Jr.
Let’s start with Gordon, who has been a regular on this list ever since the Rockets began their rebuilding process. Gordon is an experienced veteran who has played 55 career playoff games, averaging 16.0 PPG and shooting 36% from 3. He also has a non-guaranteed salary of $20.9 million for next season that becomes guaranteed only if the Rockets (or the team that trades for Gordon) win the title.
There are three big questions the Rockets have to ask themselves when discussing any potential Gordon trade.
1. Is the culture of the locker room at risk if Gordon is moved?
The Rockets have the second-youngest roster in the NBA right now, and the fourth youngest since 1998-99. Gordon and Boban Marjanovic are the only two players in their 30s, and Gordon recently voiced his displeasure with the development of the young roster.
“There’s no improvement,” he said. “Same old thing all year. We have a small margin for error. It’s a lot of things. It’s mindset. You got to play for one another. Do what’s right by your teammates. If you do that, it’d be more fun. You give yourself a better chance to win.”
The Rockets are once again last in the Western Conference and have gone 43-145 since trading James Harden to Brooklyn in 2021.
2. If a first-round pick is not in play, is moving Gordon a nonstarter?
There are only nine teams (Indiana, Memphis, New Orleans, New York, Oklahoma City, Orlando, Phoenix, San Antonio and Toronto) that control all their first-round picks in the next seven years.
Gordon is averaging a career-low 12.2 points per game, shooting 42.7% from the field and 35.2% from 3. Getting a team to give up a first-round pick for him might be difficult.
3. Does Gordon have more value next season with Houston or in a trade package?
Because his contract is non-guaranteed next season, Gordon would count as $0 in outgoing salary in a trade made over the summer (he counts as $19.6 million, his current salary, for any trade made before the deadline).
As Adrian Wojnarowski reported, Harden would have interest in a return to Houston if contract talks broke down with Philadelphia this offseason. Houston is projected to have at least $40 million in cap space, even including Gordon’s non-guaranteed salary for next season.
Meanwhile, Martin has outplayed the four-year, $6.1 million contract that he signed in 2020. He’s averaging a career-high 11.0 points per game this season in a career-high 24.6 minutes per night. He is currently eligible to sign a four-year, $58 million extension, but that would cut significantly into Houston’s cap space this summer.
Martin currently has a $1.9 million team option for 2023-24 and will become a restricted free agent if it is declined. Houston could also pick up the option, which would make Martin an unrestricted free agent in 2024.
Because of the six-month extension restriction, Martin is not eligible to sign an extension if he is traded to a team at the deadline.
Front-office trade history: Rockets general manager Rafael Stone has made 16 trades since he took over in October 2020. Five of those trades, including the James Harden blockbuster in January 2021, have occurred during the regular season. The Rockets received four first-round picks, the right to swap firsts in four seasons and Victor Oladipo, Dante Exum and Rodions Kurucs. The Rockets eventually drafted Tari Eason with the Nets’ pick this past June. There are two unprotected firsts (2024 and 2026) and three swap rights (2023, 2025 and 2027) that remain outstanding from the trade.
Last regular-season trade: Houston traded Daniel Theis to the Celtics for Dennis Schroder, Bruno Fernando and Enes Freedom at last year’s deadline.
Trade we would like to see: Kenyon Martin Jr. to Phoenix for a 2023 top-14-protected first. If not conveyed, Houston will receive 2023 and 2025 second-round picks from the Suns.
Trade exceptions: $3.9 million
Cash available: $6.4 million (to send and receive)
Salary info and restrictions:
The Rockets are $14.4 million below the luxury tax.
Because of the Bruno Fernando signing, Houston is hard capped. The Rockets are $20.6 million below the ceiling.
Kevin Porter Jr. has a poison-pill restriction in his contract. For trade purposes, his contract counts as $3.2 million in outgoing salary and $15.2 million in incoming salary for the acquiring team.
Draft assets:
The Rockets are owed two unprotected first-round picks from Brooklyn (2024 and 2026). They also have the right to swap firsts in 2023, 2025 and 2027.
Houston owes Oklahoma City top-four-protected first-round picks in both 2024 and 2026. The Thunder also have the right to swap firsts with Houston (top-10 protected) in 2025.
The Rockets have seven second-round picks available to use in a trade
2 Comments
What to watch: Eric Gordon and Kenyon Martin Jr.
Let’s start with Gordon, who has been a regular on this list ever since the Rockets began their rebuilding process. Gordon is an experienced veteran who has played 55 career playoff games, averaging 16.0 PPG and shooting 36% from 3. He also has a non-guaranteed salary of $20.9 million for next season that becomes guaranteed only if the Rockets (or the team that trades for Gordon) win the title.
There are three big questions the Rockets have to ask themselves when discussing any potential Gordon trade.
1. Is the culture of the locker room at risk if Gordon is moved?
The Rockets have the second-youngest roster in the NBA right now, and the fourth youngest since 1998-99. Gordon and Boban Marjanovic are the only two players in their 30s, and Gordon recently voiced his displeasure with the development of the young roster.
“There’s no improvement,” he said. “Same old thing all year. We have a small margin for error. It’s a lot of things. It’s mindset. You got to play for one another. Do what’s right by your teammates. If you do that, it’d be more fun. You give yourself a better chance to win.”
The Rockets are once again last in the Western Conference and have gone 43-145 since trading James Harden to Brooklyn in 2021.
2. If a first-round pick is not in play, is moving Gordon a nonstarter?
There are only nine teams (Indiana, Memphis, New Orleans, New York, Oklahoma City, Orlando, Phoenix, San Antonio and Toronto) that control all their first-round picks in the next seven years.
Gordon is averaging a career-low 12.2 points per game, shooting 42.7% from the field and 35.2% from 3. Getting a team to give up a first-round pick for him might be difficult.
3. Does Gordon have more value next season with Houston or in a trade package?
Because his contract is non-guaranteed next season, Gordon would count as $0 in outgoing salary in a trade made over the summer (he counts as $19.6 million, his current salary, for any trade made before the deadline).
As Adrian Wojnarowski reported, Harden would have interest in a return to Houston if contract talks broke down with Philadelphia this offseason. Houston is projected to have at least $40 million in cap space, even including Gordon’s non-guaranteed salary for next season.
Meanwhile, Martin has outplayed the four-year, $6.1 million contract that he signed in 2020. He’s averaging a career-high 11.0 points per game this season in a career-high 24.6 minutes per night. He is currently eligible to sign a four-year, $58 million extension, but that would cut significantly into Houston’s cap space this summer.
Martin currently has a $1.9 million team option for 2023-24 and will become a restricted free agent if it is declined. Houston could also pick up the option, which would make Martin an unrestricted free agent in 2024.
Because of the six-month extension restriction, Martin is not eligible to sign an extension if he is traded to a team at the deadline.
Front-office trade history: Rockets general manager Rafael Stone has made 16 trades since he took over in October 2020. Five of those trades, including the James Harden blockbuster in January 2021, have occurred during the regular season. The Rockets received four first-round picks, the right to swap firsts in four seasons and Victor Oladipo, Dante Exum and Rodions Kurucs. The Rockets eventually drafted Tari Eason with the Nets’ pick this past June. There are two unprotected firsts (2024 and 2026) and three swap rights (2023, 2025 and 2027) that remain outstanding from the trade.
Last regular-season trade: Houston traded Daniel Theis to the Celtics for Dennis Schroder, Bruno Fernando and Enes Freedom at last year’s deadline.
Trade we would like to see: Kenyon Martin Jr. to Phoenix for a 2023 top-14-protected first. If not conveyed, Houston will receive 2023 and 2025 second-round picks from the Suns.
Trade exceptions: $3.9 million
Cash available: $6.4 million (to send and receive)
Salary info and restrictions:
The Rockets are $14.4 million below the luxury tax.
Because of the Bruno Fernando signing, Houston is hard capped. The Rockets are $20.6 million below the ceiling.
Kevin Porter Jr. has a poison-pill restriction in his contract. For trade purposes, his contract counts as $3.2 million in outgoing salary and $15.2 million in incoming salary for the acquiring team.
Draft assets:
The Rockets are owed two unprotected first-round picks from Brooklyn (2024 and 2026). They also have the right to swap firsts in 2023, 2025 and 2027.
Houston owes Oklahoma City top-four-protected first-round picks in both 2024 and 2026. The Thunder also have the right to swap firsts with Houston (top-10 protected) in 2025.
The Rockets have seven second-round picks available to use in a trade.
Houston Rockets
Trade meter: 6
What to watch: Eric Gordon and Kenyon Martin Jr.
Let’s start with Gordon, who has been a regular on this list ever since the Rockets began their rebuilding process. Gordon is an experienced veteran who has played 55 career playoff games, averaging 16.0 PPG and shooting 36% from 3. He also has a non-guaranteed salary of $20.9 million for next season that becomes guaranteed only if the Rockets (or the team that trades for Gordon) win the title.
There are three big questions the Rockets have to ask themselves when discussing any potential Gordon trade.
1. Is the culture of the locker room at risk if Gordon is moved?
The Rockets have the second-youngest roster in the NBA right now, and the fourth youngest since 1998-99. Gordon and Boban Marjanovic are the only two players in their 30s, and Gordon recently voiced his displeasure with the development of the young roster.
“There’s no improvement,” he said. “Same old thing all year. We have a small margin for error. It’s a lot of things. It’s mindset. You got to play for one another. Do what’s right by your teammates. If you do that, it’d be more fun. You give yourself a better chance to win.”
The Rockets are once again last in the Western Conference and have gone 43-145 since trading James Harden to Brooklyn in 2021.
2. If a first-round pick is not in play, is moving Gordon a nonstarter?
There are only nine teams (Indiana, Memphis, New Orleans, New York, Oklahoma City, Orlando, Phoenix, San Antonio and Toronto) that control all their first-round picks in the next seven years.
Gordon is averaging a career-low 12.2 points per game, shooting 42.7% from the field and 35.2% from 3. Getting a team to give up a first-round pick for him might be difficult.
3. Does Gordon have more value next season with Houston or in a trade package?
Because his contract is non-guaranteed next season, Gordon would count as $0 in outgoing salary in a trade made over the summer (he counts as $19.6 million, his current salary, for any trade made before the deadline).
As Adrian Wojnarowski reported, Harden would have interest in a return to Houston if contract talks broke down with Philadelphia this offseason. Houston is projected to have at least $40 million in cap space, even including Gordon’s non-guaranteed salary for next season.
Meanwhile, Martin has outplayed the four-year, $6.1 million contract that he signed in 2020. He’s averaging a career-high 11.0 points per game this season in a career-high 24.6 minutes per night. He is currently eligible to sign a four-year, $58 million extension, but that would cut significantly into Houston’s cap space this summer.
Martin currently has a $1.9 million team option for 2023-24 and will become a restricted free agent if it is declined. Houston could also pick up the option, which would make Martin an unrestricted free agent in 2024.
Because of the six-month extension restriction, Martin is not eligible to sign an extension if he is traded to a team at the deadline.
Front-office trade history: Rockets general manager Rafael Stone has made 16 trades since he took over in October 2020. Five of those trades, including the James Harden blockbuster in January 2021, have occurred during the regular season. The Rockets received four first-round picks, the right to swap firsts in four seasons and Victor Oladipo, Dante Exum and Rodions Kurucs. The Rockets eventually drafted Tari Eason with the Nets’ pick this past June. There are two unprotected firsts (2024 and 2026) and three swap rights (2023, 2025 and 2027) that remain outstanding from the trade.
Last regular-season trade: Houston traded Daniel Theis to the Celtics for Dennis Schroder, Bruno Fernando and Enes Freedom at last year’s deadline.
Trade we would like to see: Kenyon Martin Jr. to Phoenix for a 2023 top-14-protected first. If not conveyed, Houston will receive 2023 and 2025 second-round picks from the Suns.
Trade exceptions: $3.9 million
Cash available: $6.4 million (to send and receive)
Salary info and restrictions:
The Rockets are $14.4 million below the luxury tax.
Because of the Bruno Fernando signing, Houston is hard capped. The Rockets are $20.6 million below the ceiling.
Kevin Porter Jr. has a poison-pill restriction in his contract. For trade purposes, his contract counts as $3.2 million in outgoing salary and $15.2 million in incoming salary for the acquiring team.
Draft assets:
The Rockets are owed two unprotected first-round picks from Brooklyn (2024 and 2026). They also have the right to swap firsts in 2023, 2025 and 2027.
Houston owes Oklahoma City top-four-protected first-round picks in both 2024 and 2026. The Thunder also have the right to swap firsts with Houston (top-10 protected) in 2025.
The Rockets have seven second-round picks available to use in a trade