Hornets, Eric Gordon Fail to Agree Terms of Extension
by Rohan on Jan 26, 2012 4:45 AM CST
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PrintAs you've undoubtedly seen by now, the Hornets were unable to agree to a contract extension with Eric Gordon by yesterday's 11:59 EST deadline.
Where do we go from here? It's actually pretty straightforward.
Gordon becomes a restricted free agent when this season ends. At that time, he'll have three options. The first two go as follows:
(1) sign an offer sheet with another team
(2) agree to a new contract with the Hornets
If Gordon signs the offer sheet of another team, the Hornets have full matching rights; if they met the signing team's offer sheet, Gordon becomes a Hornet under the terms of that new deal. This happens relatively often. Most recently, the Golden State Warriors signed DeAndre Jordan to a lucrative offer sheet this past offseason, and the Los Angeles Clippers opted to match.
The maximum number of years another team could offer Eric Gordon is four years, $58M, an important figure. This is lower than the maximum four year salary of $62M New Orleans could have offered yesterday. Additionally, as owners of Gordon's Bird Rights, the Hornets would also have the option of offering the additional fifth year that no other team could. Keep in mind that a team may only offer one five-year deal within the current CBA period which expires in 2017.
Essentially, if Gordon was refusing to sign anything less than the 4 year, $58M figure yesterday, the breakdown in negotiations made perfect sense. The single advantage that negotiating an extension before the deadline provided was the opportunity to sign Gordon for below market value. It would have made minimal sense to offer him more than that, without at least allowing the market to dictate his true price over the summer.
So now we wait.
I'll reiterate once more that yesterday's result should in no way be taken as a sign that Gordon does not want to play in New Orleans long term. He and his agent simply believe that he's worth close to a full max deal (an idea I fully agree with) which is entirely reasonable.
But I'd be remiss to end this without mentioning the final option, of course:
(3) sign a one year qualifying offer with the Hornets, become an unrestricted FA in 2013
In this scenario, Gordon sacrifices millions and millions of dollars and long term financial security to make a mad dash out of the city. If it sounds farfetched, it's because it is. If the Hornets want Gordon this summer (and they will), the two sides will almost assuredly work things out.
Yesterday assured two things: the Hornets won't get a cut-rate deal for Gordon, and we'll have to live with that little lingering uncertainty in the backs of our minds for a bit longer.
As fans of a 3-15 team that has no owner, I have a hunch we'll get by.
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PANIC!!!!
running around screaming
OK I’m better. This is ‘chocolate’
no....
The pipe is reserved for a 5 -year max deal for Belli.
Everytime Belinelli Shoots
It makes me miss Peja more.
"You play to win the game."
by MrWayneKeller on Jan 26, 2012 12:06 PM CST up reply actions
I miss Peja every day
He was just….awesome. Even when he wasnt
Great Analysis
It would have been nice to have Gordon locked up, but he will be a Hornet next year regardless. A new owner is going to be more willing to spend than David Stern who is trying to sell the team.
Nice Work Rohan
No need for the Hornets to give out max money now when he will be an RFA this summer. Let the market dictate.
"I've seen George Foreman shadow box, and the shadow won." Muhammad Ali
All good points BUT....
Do we/team really this little distraction right now? At the end of the day, I really hope the FO know what they’re doing. As a club coming into a season that lost its 2 All Stars and are horrible record wise, AND trying to find an owner for such said team that needs/wants to see if its a good investment….. Maybe I’m just reading too much into this but i do know that the Hornets(team) will always be fine BUT if it keeps looking like the ship is sinking, they might not be always in New Orleans..
that's my worry too
Although I suspect things are not as bad as they seem as Rohan suggested, I’m concerned that this scenario looks like our ship is continuing to sink…
Ship only appears to be sinking
because the media is littered with full blown idiots. I have full faith everything will go according to plan.
Yeah
Everyone should stop listening to the media. Even when the Hornets were great they had nothing positive to say about them. They never well. We should legitimately never take ESPN, Yahoo, CBS (anybody’s) opinions in relation to the team.
"You play to win the game."
by MrWayneKeller on Jan 26, 2012 11:52 AM CST up reply actions
Traveling in asia
Traveling so can’t focus too much on the Bees this week.
But am a little concerned about the uncertainty that we are facing. Uncertainty is not good I think in the situation we are in. The less of it the better. Still, in some respects, maybe if gordon continues to be injured for a significant chunk of this season, with his history of injuries, that might help in future signing scenarios, though I still suspect we’ll have to end up matching an offer sheet.
By the way, thanks Rohan for breaking down the alternatives. I genuinely believe that Gordon is fine to stay in NO at the right price.
I have to read your piece about why Gordon may deserve the max, a view I don’t necessarily share^^… but will have to read it.
Saw the Bees lost again though the score was respectable as usual (well, against OKC 10 pt loss is respectable).
Cheers all. Keep the faith! (what else can we do, right?)
I don't know about you guys
but I’m really looking forward to the Hornets being good again in 2017 just in time for the next lockout
Rohan
Can you please forward this too all the schmuck writers who don’t even understand the basics of their profession?
Hornets can’t resign Gordon? Just another sign that the league needs to sell the team. Now. Get out of this side action.
Or, ones who think it’s worthwhile writing how the Pacers are going to go after him?
Report: The Pacers will pursue Eric Gordon in restricted free agency.
The Pacers
Will simply make the offer and the Hornets should match it. The Pacers have too many other players they have to pay this offseason to give Gordon the max. And if they do, and Gordon wants to go there and eat up half of their payroll, then the Pacers will just be a bottom of the pack team for a long time. The future’s brighter in New Orleans. The Pacers have gone all out for the next two years and they don’t even want to pay one of their better players in Hibbert.
I don’t hear any “OMG the Pacers didn’t resign Hibbert so he wants to leave and basketball in Indiana has no hope!” stories floating around.
"You play to win the game."
by MrWayneKeller on Jan 26, 2012 11:55 AM CST up reply actions
Woah
The Pacers didn’t extend Roy for the same reason NO didn’t extend EJ (they didn’t want to offer him a max offer at the moment). The only different is they didn’t even bother offering him anything because his agent made it known he wouldn’t sign an early extension, so they’ll let him test the market but match up to the most lucrative offers (hopefully not a max one). It has NOTHING to do with them not wanting him. I also take a little exception to your “future is brighter in New Orleans” comment. That seems somewhat ludicrous, given several factors, but I’ll leave that alone. Not here to troll your site and start fights.
I’m now under the assumption that the ONLY way EJ leaves your team is if my team offers him a max deal and he asks NOR not to match. That would be extremely out of character for him. All the talking heads are wrong. If NOR is smart, and offers him the max (which would be way smarter for them to do than for Indiana to do, given the circumstances), he’ll be happy and play in NOR. End of story.
"You're hitting the wrong person. Don't you know you're hitting Ron Artest?"
Come visit The Fantasy Ninjas. We'd love to hear from you.
Appreciate the insight
Haven’t really researched so perhaps you could answer – is Hibbert happy in Indiana and would prefer they offer him a good deal this offseason?
He loves it here
He’s a Pacer for life, barring the team, and this would shock me, refusing to match a max deal (which he’s NOT worth, but oh well…close enough…kind of like EJ for you guys).
"You're hitting the wrong person. Don't you know you're hitting Ron Artest?"
Come visit The Fantasy Ninjas. We'd love to hear from you.
Big Men
Are regularly overpaid especially good ones. Some team will, unfortunately, give McGee a max contract this offseason too. DeAndre Jordan just got 43 million dollars. It’s the nature of the business (and a big reason why I don’t consider Okafor’s contract so much of an albatross).
"You play to win the game."
by MrWayneKeller on Jan 26, 2012 9:29 PM CST up reply actions
I'm Aware
Your stance is fair enough. I’m just comparing the coverage for one to the coverage for the other.
And how do you disagree with the future is brighter in New Orleans sentiment? The Pacers currently have Darren Collison, George Hill, Hansbrough, Paul George, Roy Hibbert all on rookie contracts. You’re not going to be able to pay all of them. You have a good core for the next couple of years, the cupboard is bare in New Orleans and can be brighter (especially if Gordon is a part of it).
"You play to win the game."
by MrWayneKeller on Jan 26, 2012 1:44 PM CST up reply actions
Actually
The Pacers can totally afford everyone over the next three years with some lucky breaks. Check my breakdown in the comments of this fanpost.
The only way they absolutely can’t is if they try to pay some free agent, like Gordon, a max deal. Hell, read the breakdown, they wouldn’t even have to go over the cap, assuming it reflects inflation the way it’s supposed to.
"You're hitting the wrong person. Don't you know you're hitting Ron Artest?"
Come visit The Fantasy Ninjas. We'd love to hear from you.
Great Comments
Appreciate you not flipping out at my Pacers hate over the Gordon situation.
"You play to win the game."
by MrWayneKeller on Jan 26, 2012 9:29 PM CST up reply actions
Also
If the team has made its intentions known that they want to pay Eric Gordon (reportedly) this offseason, how do you figure they’ll be able to afford both Gordon and Hibbert? That’s what I mean.
"You play to win the game."
by MrWayneKeller on Jan 26, 2012 1:46 PM CST up reply actions
They haven't made their intentions known
It’s just widely speculated because EJ is very into Indy. “Insiders” don’t ever site any sources when they say he’ll come here, it just makes perfect sense. But really, if the Pacers want EJ AND HIbbert, they have to salary dump Granger somehow, and that’s just unrealistic. So I’m not on board with chasing EJ.
"You're hitting the wrong person. Don't you know you're hitting Ron Artest?"
Come visit The Fantasy Ninjas. We'd love to hear from you.
future
Future’s brighter in New Orleans?
Other than things are a total mess, that playoffs are nowhere in sight, our draft prospects are continuing to sink as Minnie improves each game, and we have one of the worst records, futures’s shining bright.
As I Said
The cupboard is bare. Not only that, it’s not as if our draft hinges entirely on Minnesota’s record. You do nothing but refer to the Minnesota draft pick as if it was the only beacon of hope going into this season. The Pacers pretty much already are what they are and the Hornets can only get better (exceptionally better, possibly, come the draft).
To steal a line from Moneyball, “I’m reinvigorated with my love of the game every time we talk.”
"You play to win the game."
by MrWayneKeller on Jan 26, 2012 10:49 PM CST up reply actions
"The Pacers pretty much already are what they are?"
Ton of solid pieces and many of them still young and you’re saying that’s it?
How Much Better
Do you expect Collison and George Hill to get? Honestly. Collison has regressed since going to Indiana and Hill’s already 25 or 26. How much do you think David West has left? Is Granger going to be the best scoring option for them long term? Will Paul George emerge as that scoring option? Is Hansbrough deserving of a starting spot?
Anyways, I’m not trying to start any arguments here. I’m big on Indiana for this year and next year I just don’t think, long term, they’re really going to make huge strides. And that’s a stance that can’t really be justified for another two or three years.
I guess the only thing more annoying than always glass half empty guy is always glass half full guy…?
"You play to win the game."
by MrWayneKeller on Jan 27, 2012 9:05 AM CST up reply actions
No idea
but you seem to have at best unfairly pigeonholed them into 1st round playoff mediocrity. With talent across the board + some upcoming cap space to play with, I wouldn’t be surprised to see them challenge the top 4 in the East for awhile. Who knows, if everything were to fall into place, they could possibly emulate the World Champion Pistons with decent contributions across the board.
Pacers
With a roster of young players and the 3rd best record in the Conference, I’m guessing that the Pacers aren’t too worried about being “what they are”.
Regarding the hornets, I agree that the future’s not all about the Minnie pick. But in that case, I’m not following you that the Hornets are set to become “exceptionally” better come the draft. I guess you are alluding to the idea that although the Minnie pick might not be a great pick, our horrible play this year will nevertheless give us a high draft pick. Not only do I recall that you arrgued that picks are hit or miss and there are no guarantees (something that I agree with), but I think you may also be discounting the possibility that the Hornets may also later play themselves out of the high lottery once Gordon returns. That’s a scenario that I think is not only plausible, but also , in my opinion, quite likely, especially this year when we have these solid but not great 1 year rental players on our roster.
I don’t think the hornets are as bad as our record indicates and watching flahes of Ayon and at times, Aminu has been pleasant. And we’ll be better once Gordon returns. But overall, the hornets are a mess.
I Guess
What I’m trying to say is that I don’t think Indiana is a bad team at all (at all, at all) just that I don’t see the room for great growth. In that sense, I kind of liken them to the Atlanta Hawks. I just think they’ll be around the 3-6 region for a few years with a ceiling in the Conference Semifinals. And there’s nothing wrong with that. That’s certainly better than what the Hornets are doing right now. I’m just saying the room for improvement isn’t what it’s perceived to be, at least not in my mind. That’s all.
"You play to win the game."
by MrWayneKeller on Jan 27, 2012 9:10 AM CST up reply actions
Not to jump into your conversation
But this is actually a dream scenario for most of us. Winning a title during the LeBron in Miami era is far from realistic for the Pacers. Maybe the Bulls could pull it off, though I hate them even more than I hate Miami. But going from outright crap (but sadly not bad enough to secure high draft picks) to somewhere in the 3-6 range yearly would be a boon for our fanbase, which is desperate for attention, respect and anything other than a crappy late lottery pick to look forward to. So yeah, I agree with you. This team (the Pacers) wasn’t built to win a title. If they somehow do make it to the Conference finals or miraculously, the NBA finals, it will be house money time. Some fans understand this, some don’t, but everyone will agree that if the Pacers can compete in that mid-seed playoff range for a few years the ticket sales will increase exponentially, which is all any owner can ask for during these collusion-tainted times.
"You're hitting the wrong person. Don't you know you're hitting Ron Artest?"
Come visit The Fantasy Ninjas. We'd love to hear from you.
Fair Enough
I don’t mean the projections as any kind of slap in the face to the franchise. I actually like Indiana and have for the past three years. I’m just saying I don’t think they’re going to blossom into anything that’s championship material.
"You play to win the game."
by MrWayneKeller on Jan 27, 2012 10:49 AM CST up reply actions
yeah, I wasn't offended
Just saying that your projection is actually what I want out of my team. I mean, everyone wants to root for a contender, but I’m realistic, and I’ll settle for “The Atlanta Hawks (but with fans and fun home games)”
"You're hitting the wrong person. Don't you know you're hitting Ron Artest?"
Come visit The Fantasy Ninjas. We'd love to hear from you.
I understand what you are saying
But I don’t know whether the Hornets are really building a championship blueprint either. Are we really building a championship team around Gordon? There’s just so many unknowns and question marks, so many ways we could badly veer off, that I consider the future to be muddy at best at the moment.
And let’s keep in mind that, if the Pacers actually did somehow get Gordon, their future would definitely be bright. On the Pacers, Gordon would just be a “final piece”, rather than the center and foundation of the franchise like we are trying to make him here.
Heh
I actually met Roland Lazenby at All-Star Weekend.. had a conversation with him without realizing until afterwards that he’s a relatively famous basketball writer.
In other news
isn’t everyone else excited?
Darius Songaila and Galatasaray Istanbul reached an agreement to part ways.
It’s too bad we already have a full front court. :)
I Liked Songaila
lol everyone made fun of me for it too. I don’t know if I’d still want him over Jason Smith this season but I definitely did last season.
"You play to win the game."
by MrWayneKeller on Jan 26, 2012 11:53 AM CST up reply actions
Aaron Brooks
Is who I would prefer we sign from the “played overseas” bunch.
by usnfish on Jan 26, 2012 11:59 AM CST via mobile up reply actions
Give Me
None of them!
"You play to win the game."
by MrWayneKeller on Jan 26, 2012 1:44 PM CST up reply actions
I would have a hard time cheering for anyone
named Aaron Brooks. We would have to give him a nickname as soon as he stepped foot in NOLA.
I guess I can go anywhere I want. If only I knew where to go-Layne Staley
by AcquiredPanic on Jan 26, 2012 3:56 PM CST up reply actions
Quick question
I have been busy with school so I have not kept up as closely as last year, but didn’t the NO offer sit in the league office waiting for approval until Tuesday? If that is the case, and the Hornets couldn’t make the offer until the league approved it, there would be no way Gordon could make a counter offer and have the league approve it by the deadline. If Stern was so adamant that Gordon be included in any trade for CP3 then should the extension been approved by the league a little faster so there was time for negotiating?
Stern and the Hornets take a risk
I think the Hornets née David Stern made a poor business decision. Gordon through his agent will demand 5 years when they negotiate again this summer. Gordon can say give me 5 years or else I will just play for the qualifying offer and become an UFA summer of 13. It ends up costing the Hornets more.
I know a few issues came up during meeting...
First and formost the Brandon Roy situation. We all know he was the 2nd coming of Kobe BUT those operations in both knees killed his career. Gordon is now on the bench because of a lingering injury and its not the first, second or third time. Its crazy how the injury was a thigh bruise THEN needing to rest his knee…
Second as a team, the Hornets have issues that can be solved for starters by having Gordon on the roster. It’s just one of those things where BOTH cancelled each other’s leverage out. The Hornets as an organization isn’t going anwhere but could be out of the city in a couple or few years. In order to attract a buyer to keep the team here, we need to at least be able to contend for a title. A HEALTHY Gordon, trade for Kaman & possibly Okafor(sorry but tired of seeing Ok back down against taller more athletic big men) & a couple of top flight picks in the draft is a big step in the right direction.
Because Gordon is gonna be here another year including this one, I feel confident Demps will work his magic in putting the right pieces around him to make this team a contender. I just hate that in addition to losing night in & out, politics & drama takes more fun out of the game.
Hearing
That 3 week rest is all that’s left over but now…. talk is that Eric Gordon’s knee injury will not just cost 3 weeks…. but could cost 3-6 weeks.
"You play to win the game."
In NO's best interests?
NO has a valuable asset in Eric Gordon and they also want to get a very high draft choice, hopefully, two. Giving Gordon plenty of time to recuperate is in both parties’ best long-term interests. Let’s say Gordon comes back mid-March and plays the final six weeks of the season. Enough time to determine if he’s recovered fully and enough time for Gordon to showcase his skills for NO and the rest of the league. NO ends up with a worse record and can point to Gordon’s play to sell season tickets for the ’12-13 season.
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