Ryan Schwan talks Eric Gordon and his statements to the media. He fully expects to be ripped apart in the comments.
Well the vitriol has been on full blast the past few days. Eric Gordon is taking a shellacking on this site I haven’t seen since the days of Baron Davis and his forced exodus from the team. Even then it wasn’t so bad, since our traffic has increased by a multiple of 10 or so.
I get the feeling. I still dislike Baron Davis intensely. He deserved the anger.
In a lot of ways, Eric deserves the anger he’s receiving too. Some of it. But let’s take a step back for a moment, guys. Gordon, from his statements to Joe Gerrity and Jimmy Smith in that fascinating interview at the Olympics, has a trio of complaints.
- The Hornets haven’t called him directly. At all.
- The Hornets haven’t filled that massive hole at center.
- The Hornets drafted someone similar to him.
Now consider his situation. He didn’t ever choose the Hornets. He was the centerpiece of a trade that sent him from a promising situation to a chaotic, league-owned one with the worst record in the West – something he’d been experiencing entirely too often over the past couple years. Worse, he arrived at the team and immediately suffered an injury that kept him from playing. There are few things as stressful as being in that kind of a situation with a new team. He has no track record of past performance to point to, AND you also have to remember that his coach is Monty Williams. There were rumors at the All-Star break that Williams was frustrated with Gordon’s lack of progress. Do you think Williams didn’t communicate that frustration to Gordon via body language, or flat out by saying it? When has Monty ever minced words?
I’ve felt stress at work when I wasn’t able to get things done – unrealistic deadlines, roadblocks that made projects stumble. I handle them – but I can’t help but feel a little resentful towards those looking askance at me for failing. I didn’t set those deadlines – or fail in the analysis. It’s not my fault, damnit.
Eric didn’t injure his knee on purpose, damnit.
So why did he not get a call at 12:01 am July 1st from the Hornets telling him they wanted him as a centerpiece to his team? Why did they only call his agent? More strain on an already strained relationship.
Remember, Gordon is technically a free agent, restricted tag or not. Do you know how teams get big fish on the hook in free agency? They cater to them. They greet them with 100 clapping employees. They call the first second they can. They hire Dwyane Wade to lobby for them. This stuff does matter.
The Hornets didn’t. They don’t have a Dwyane Wade to lobby for them either, they have a pair of unproven rookies, one of whom plays at Gordon’s position. That has to sting. These guys have egos. Even the sleepy-eyed ones.
Think about your own situation at work. If you were looking for a job and got a nice offer from a company that also wined and dined you. Still, it’s a hassle to move, and your current job isn’t bad by any means. So you go to your boss and say “Look. I have this offer. I’m going to take it.” and your boss responds by looking disinterested, shrugging and then later sending you an email that says “Whatever. We’ll match that offer you got.”
Wouldn’t you be bothered by that?
Oh, and then you find out your own work has laid off a series of reliable co-workers – and replaced them with nothing. In fact, they don’t even seem interested in filling those roles, so you’ll have to take on a heavier burden to succeed.
Meanwhile, that other company has gone out and is aggressively hiring.
You’d leave, right? I’d leave.
Except Gordon can’t, because of his contract which says he can only leave if the Hornets allow it. So what is his one option? In his strategy sessions with his agent(those strategy sessions, I’m sure, in which his agent roundly curses the Hornets for not budging and being willing to pony up more cash) what is the one thing they possibly discussed that he could do that may make it possible to leave?
Make himself odious.
You see, this whole thing is about power. Controlling your destiny. Gordon is trying to do that. He’s picked a particularly bad fan base to try it with since they just went through the whole Chris Paul thing, but I don’t blame him. If he comes back to the Hornets, I’m not going to boo or hate him. I’m not worried he’ll check out on the team.
I’m willing to give him a break. I can see his side of things. Are you willing? Is he really deserving of this level of scorn? He’s still possibly the best basketball talent on the market this summer. That has to count for something too, right?
Sound off, people!
(McNamara, by the way, has a completely different take on this – including one of his ever-so-popular conspiracy theories. Tune in the Podcast to hear all about it!)
78 responses to “One man’s take on Eric Gordon”
I agree, somewhat. I trust Dell and Monty.
I trust Dell and Monty, too. They must’ve seen this coming. Their silence is deafening and, I’m sure, calculated. I see Ryan’s points, but I am not willing to give Gordon another chance until he earns it. He know what NOLA has been through, he knows things were finally looking up. He knows exactly the kind of blow he landed on the fan base. He knows Benson is trying to get new fans on board and EG’s comments are poison to that cause. EG left fans that love this team no choice but to spew vitriol so the new readers see we bleed purple, teal and gold. We can’t be soft on EG because then we are a soft fan base that lacks passion. We love the Hornets. If he does not want to be a Hornet, so be it. But he gets no love for it. So, as much as Ryan’s argument is sensible and articulate, there are other things at stake here . . . and no fan base can grow without pride. EG has done damage to that pride. Now he must reap what he has sown.
The situation between EG and the organization is coming out to be very perplexing everytime more news is being reported about it. Did Monty and EG ever have a good relationship? Can their discord ever be mended?
According to Monty and Dell, they’ve talked to Gordon numerous times about their plan for him to be the centerpiece. I haven’t heard a single word out of Monty or Dell’s mouth that indicated Gordon was the most important person on the roster. So why should they have to call him on day 1 of free agency and reiterate that? I’d love to hear Gordon’s answer to that question. He’s mad just because they haven’t shown interest since July 1st. Well what about the interest they’ve shown leading up to July 1st? That goes out the door just because he’s now a “free agent”? It’s childish to me. His frustration about roster moves is equally childish. Let’s get this straight. Most of us Hornets fans are somewhat worried about the Hornets lack of moves so far this off-season. But you know what, none of us are qualified to be NBA general managers. Dell is. He has a plan, and just because we don’t see it doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. The same rings true for Gordon. He is not a GM, nor is he qualified to be one. He is a player, and his focus should be on preparing for the season opener, whether it’s hear or in Phoenix. I have much more to say, but no time left to type.
Ryan, I’m glad you wrote this so people can see both sides of the story. I personally would love to have EG back because I know what he can be. I’ll forgive him as long as he plays his heart out every time he steps on the floor in a NOLA jersey. Fire away!
Quick edit: I haven’t heard a single word out of Monty or Dell’s mouth that indicated Gordon WAS NOT the most important person on the roster.
I agree 100%. It’s what I’ve been saying. We KNOW this team has holes and tpb act like they aren’t interested in spending. We had less money on the cap than the sun and they are making moves. I know people want to keep flexibility but that flexibility means nothing if players don’t think you are serious about winning and that you’re cheap. Stop gaps are cool for one or two players but not 8. I don’t like how Gordon handled this: but, I see his pov from EVERY angle.
I know every professional athelete has an ego, but I think EG may have an inflated perception of exactly what kind of player he is. I think he fully expected to make the olympic roster that was loaded at guard, and I think he honestly cares almost more about the title of “Max-level player” than the max money.
I think he wants to be told he is the future and the centerpiece, and he is sad because he isn’t being treated like it in NOLA. Personally, I am fine with how the hornets have handled all this. I don’t think he is deserving of a max contract after his first four years in the league, and I don’t think he could be “the top guy” on a championship team. If he would rather play somewhere else and be the top guy, but not sniff a championship, then that is fine by me.
I’m sure some disagree with me so I will get ready for some little red thumbs.
You are so wrong . . . I like the post! Fool!
It’s all about power, and grabbing it many ways. He’s supposed to be a darling in free agency, at least once the prize pigs were off the market, and yet he’s effectively in an arranged betrothal. I’d be mad.
Yet, I don’t care. He’s an asset. The Hornets control that asset, unless he signs the QO. Them’s da breaks. We just went through all this CBA nonsense, and knows he has to live by it. He knew it was coming from shortly after he inked the recently-expired deal.
The truth is that what we wants only directs where and how the Hornets exercise their power. He points to a toy, then the Hornets evaluate buying that toy or not. The don’t have all the power, but they have ultimate power. That is, nothing happens without their consent, whereas things can happen for EJ without his consent . . . unless he signs the QO . . . or doesn’t sign anything, gives up all the money, and is restricted next offseason unless the Hornets choose to let him go.
Ultimate power isn’t total control, it’s the final say.
The NBPA agrees that player gain that under circumstances that EJ hasn’t put himself through yet. So complain to them, not to Dell. You handed him this tool, and it’s his job to use it.
The fans, however, should understand all this, that none of it is personal. It’s all about the majority of the money this dropout will ever make in his life, and where he’ll make it. He’ll get a max deal, so that doesn’t enter into the equation. It’s about the other stuff once you talk about max deals.
And there is the real culprit. Max deal. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Maxima on veteran salaries are the cause of most of the ills in the NBA.
Off to Company Burger.
at the end of the day, he hasnt earned that Max-level player tag, he played 9 games for us, 9, averaging 20 ppg and very underwhelming everywhere else, im sure we can get someone that can score 20ppg without getting a max deal, i understand hes one of the best 2guards in the league but if he cant stay healthy what good is he for? hes over valuating himself, hes not worth the malcontent, if he doesnt want to play in nola then trade him, get the best you can get, which might not be in phoenix, but oh well, he can cry a little more once hes traded to a team he doesnt want to play with, in Dell we trust
Please explain to me he should get a max deal? I’m confuse on that being he played 9 games. I don’t see why all this big fuss about. We don’t even know what he can do. Jeremy Lin did good as well for a certain amount of games..Once he face Miami he was not a factor.So, we don’t know what the kid can do.
Wow after I heard the interview with him I told josh almost the same thing
No No No…If his beef is with the front office he could have voice his discomfort to them..He laid it all out there for the New Orleans, Phoenix, and NBA fans..This is an unforgivable offense…He should be done in NO…We are forgiving fans but not to someone that is trying to embarrass our front office and our franchise by lying about lack of communication…I could respect him more if he just said i just dont like New Orleans…Our team is on the upbeat after the draft and one would think he wanted to be a part of the rebuild, but he had to be negative with his comments, something New Orleans fans wont forget….
Sorry I still have a lot of disdain for him. The “other company who’s aggressively hiring” has lost an aging yet important part of their franchise and is throwing proverbial crap at the wall and seeing what sticks. The Hornets have PUBLICLY stated what Eric means to this team time and time again and mean while he consistently stated he was “going to test the waters in free agency” to which we said “we’ll match it.” We even offered him a contract back when nobody knew he if would ever be 100% ever again. I don’t see the value that he sees in PHX, their big man situation isn’t anything to write home about even if they can manage to keep Lopez. Has he ever considered that maybe Monty knows what he’s doing when he seems to be the coolest guy in the room while the rest of the league is running around like chickens with their heads cut off? The best scenario I see coming out of this (please let me know if I’m wrong about the possibility of this but this my understanding from the previous blogs) is that Gordon follows through with his statements when the Hornets match and to quote ESPN “turns it in to a Chris Paul situation.” This to me means he’ll refuse to sign the 4 yr with us and sign the 1 year QO. We have a full season of EG10 at “one hundred percent” health wise to judge his level of talent and/or his ability to stay healthy. If he performs well we can position for a favorable trade or sell him on staying. If not we just say bye-bye and not have a bad contract on our hands at this critical time in our rebuilding.
You seem to not be a close follower of the sport if you think that phoenix has a poor big man situation and for some reason you think Robin Lopez is their best big man. Most teams would love to have Gortat as their starting center, granted Micheal Beasley at PF has not been consistent in the league yet but has shown the ability to put up monster games. So to slander the Suns big man situation is just ignorance talking. Also, with N.O.’s point guard situation I see NO value in EG wanting to be apart of that back court.
If they S&T him, I’ll be okay, but if they keep him, that’ll be okay with me, too. He’ll play, and if we start winning and doing well, everybody will be happy and we’ll forget all about this week. A max 4 yr contract for him doesn’t scare me as much as a 5 yr contract would.
Some article I read yesterday brought up a good point, though. If you really want to be free and control your own destiny, don’t accept the qualifying offer, play out the last year, and then become an unrestricted free agent. If you’re as good as YOU THINK YOU ARE, then you’ll crush it and get an even more lucrative deal next year. But doing that takes a little bit of balls. You’ve got to be a man to take a risk on yourself. How can he be so baffled about why the Hornets are hesitant to take a max risk on him, when he’s not even willing to take the risk on himself?
Monty and Dell should have called him to officially verify their positions, but come on! They didn’t call us personally, and everyone of us on this site knows that they want him to be the centerpiece of this team. It’s ridiculous to say that you’ve had NO CONTACT with them and have no idea what their intentions are.
I don’t hate Eric Gordon, and I’ll be happy if he stays, but the Hornets need to quash this power play NOW. And Eric, please quit acting like a little bitch.
or, I mean sign the QO.
EG has every reason to be upset if what he says is true, although taking shots at some of the players was wrong. I’m no GM eithern nor would i make a good one, but I like the lack of moves this off season. Let some of these younger guys develop more and when AD and Rivers get more acclimated to the NBA, address those holes then. They could end up being different.
Very few writers who was fair and this article on this topic was fair and I salute you. Now on Eric Gordon…the dude was lied to by the Clippers & traded. Stop & think about that for just a second. He made good friends and finally the Clippers were heading in the right direction…and boom he finds out he gets traded WHILE signing autographs at some charity event for the Clippers. Terrible feeling. Then you collect yourself…say your goodbyes to your friends and finish signing autographs and get on a plane to go to New Orleans. Then…you get hurt…badly. Must have drove him NUTS to be out of the lineup. Then.watch his buddies on the Clippers do very well all season long. His draft class…Gordon watched as Rose got 95 million…Bulls did NOT even mess around. Westbrook gets 80 million…the Thunder did not even mess around. Sad to say…but this is the reality of it…Eric Gordon gets an offer 32 million less than Westbrook…comparable player and is kind of insulted New Orleans did not offer the max in January. YES…he got hurt. Eric Gordon did NOT get hurt on purpose or fake any injury. New Orleans medical staff BUMBLED around for weeks…causing Eric to miss more time than he wanted to after they FINALLY had him go to surgery. Not good. Then…instead of speaking with him personally…they go to the media and claim they will match any offer. Fine. Then they draft Rivers. If you do not understand how Eric Gordon is very concerned about being replaced AGAIN…then you are a clueless organization and/or NBA fan. If you do not understand how TOTALLY insecure any even elite basketball players on all levels get…then you are clueless too. That is part of the game. New Orleans needs to go one on one with Eric Gordon and explain what the longer term plan is and air all this out. Eric Gordon did NOT throw the fans or any players on the roster under the bus. That is B.S. He was merely confused why they drafted Rivers and was hoping New Orleans picked up and drafted some more big men…and EXPERIENCED free agents…established players. Dude got traded for no good reason…lied to…that is where is may have had a chip on his shoulder and is very apprehensive about even New Orleans now. I think he should talk to the fans of New Orleans and apologize for what is a misunderstanding and the New Orleans management and Eric need to sit down and air it all out. Maybe he is destined to go to Phoenix, but NOT this way…I am sure today Eric Gordon is upset with the way he came off to the New Orleans fans and Everyone. I think he needs to get on ESPN and sit down and explain it again without pissing people off and being honest…but not burning the bridge until he is full over the bridge. Eric Gordon distrusts the entire system and is questioning WHY IT IS SET UP LIKE THAT IS ALL THIS IS and ramp up the city of New Orleans to hate him is just plain WRONG. Other reporters in New Orleans are really biased, act like fans and are pushing this hatred of Eric Gordon and I think the whole thing is just Eric Gordon wanting to feel secure in his spot, his role and future and does NOT want to come off as some whining millionaire…he just wants to feel certain that the team he plays for has his back. I do not have one problem with anything he said. He was brutally honest…but honest and I like that. I really do not think he is a villain like some of these Hornets writers make him out to be. Eric is just confused by New Orleans moves is all there is to it. NOT THE END OF THE WORLD…AND NO REASON TO HATE THE GUY. Kid gets injured and people hate him for that too…he never intended to get hurt. Rose got hurt a lot too.Even before the knee injury…out a lot before. MJ broke his foot..everyone said he was injury prone.
2 reporters in New Orleans are acting like meat ball fans who had a few too many drinks and are attempting to run Eric Gordon right out of town and get you fans to boo him when he comes to town in a Suns uniform. Grow up. You do not like the answers he gave you…or it hurts your feelings…as a fan…then you should not even call yourselves journalists. Jay Marriotti provocative style is ploy to get more traffic and higher ratings…stir the pot into a hornets nest…way to go meat head fans with a blog title is all those 2 clowns are.
Get real man…Gordon did this to himself..And deserves to get the voodoo put on him by some NO witch doctor…
Disagree!
No matter if the past 8 months have been disappointing for him, He should have remembered that He is a “professional” basketball player and there is a “professional” system called CBA. So, everybody plays by the rules of that system, you gotta respect that. A professional player should respect the system and should not act selfish like this. You simply cannot go play for the team that you want to play. That’s not how it works. You may dislike you GM, you may dislike your coach, you may dislike your teammates but you have to do your job until you get traded or let go.
Why is he burning the bridges even if he knows that we can still keep him?
As a professional basketball player Eric Gordon should remember:
You are a player of New Orleans Hornets.
Like it or not, You were acquired by the Hornets in the CP3 trade last December.
Like it or not, You are a “restricted” free agent.
Like it or not, You have to play for the Hornets if they match an offer-sheet and do not trade you anywhere.
As he says if we don’t let him go, he has to do his job and play basketball. But, he should have acted more professional and chose his words wisely considering that fact!
I understand his side of the situation and probably Eric Gordon is doing this on purpose in order for us to trade him. That’s why!
EG misses 40 games a season!!! so do you think he should get anything near what Westbrook or Rose gets? nope I doubt it!!! all EG is, a expensive Marcus Thorton !!!
Edited: you can do better.
Bring some thought to your posts.
I’m getting tired of all of these “opinions” by our beloved sports reporters and no hard facts or detailed analysis about what the Hornets’ actual options (e.g. sign-and-trade, etc.) really are.
Have you not read those exact posts on this site?
http://www.hornets247.com/blog/2012/07/04/hornets-cba-faq-part-two-buyers-remorse-gordon-sign-then-trade-cap-space-nick-collison/
http://www.hornets247.com/blog/2012/07/04/so-eric-gordon-wants-to-be-a-phoenix-sun/
http://www.hornets247.com/blog/2012/06/30/rockets-putting-together-package-for-eric-gordon/
http://www.hornets247.com/blog/2012/06/24/hornets-cba-faq-part-one-eric-gordon-anthony-davis-and-cp3/
Plus Podcasts, etc.
More than most. Thanks for what you’ve provided so far. But I’m still hungry for more information.
Isn’t this site a blog. Aren’t blogs essentially opinions? Even all those moves discussed are educated opinions. If you want news go to ESPN. I’ll enjoy my opinion based blog!
“Blog” is short for “weblog” which is defined as follows: “a Web site that provides updated headlines and news articles of other sites that are of interest to the user, also may include journal entries, commentaries and recommendations compiled by the user.”
I would argue that regardless of what this site if signified by, it is something much more than all that.
I can’t speak for the others, but I think we do more than just express opinions.
I can say for sure that I do. I analyze the socks off things like nobody’s business. What’s that called? Academics? I’ll take it.
Just enjoy the WEBSITE and stop trying to stuff it into a box.
Jason, I definitely did not mean this site has no facts. I read a lot of your articles and you put in a lot of work to provide facts and hard numbers. I know this site is more than bunch of opinions. Just trying to help with the trolls is all. Sorry for putting this site in the “box”. Again, not what I meant.
My comment is not so much at you as at those same folks.
It’s like a prepared play . . .
You: “I just don’t know what to do about all this pet hair!” (but you really do)
Me: “Have you tried Hair-Today-Gone-Tomorrow?” (I know you have)
You: “No. What’s that?” (as if you don’t know)
Me: “It picks up pet hair.” (Duh)
You: “Wow!”
Sometimes it takes me like 5 minutes to figure out what the heck Jason is talking about, and we communicate daily.
Stick and move, Joe.
Stick and move.
I agree with you. Call the guy and just let him know, it is not that hard.
If u play 9 games in a contract season..Shame on u for expecting a Max offer up front…
If the Suns love Eric as much as he thinks they do, lets see how much they are willing to put up in a sign and trade. If all they are willing to trade are a couple of bench warmers, hopefully Eric will see that they were just blowing smoke up his butt. If they are willing to put up fair compensation, then let him him go to the Suns.
thank you u said exactly what im trying to say. This guy never liked our city we are great fans and have to kiss EG butt (great player) our future is too bright right now.
That makes absolutely no sense at all. If they trade away all the reasons he wants to be there in the first place why would he want to go there? He wants to go there because he believes that the Suns are pushing to be competitive.
Like probably every other contributor to this board I’ve gone back and forth on the EG affair in my own mind and when I’m feeling more empathy alot of what I’ve thought matches what Ryan has posted.
At the end of the day though for me it comes down to this … who the f does Eric Gordon think he is. I was living in Cleveland actually when the whole Lebron thing went down; at least Lebron had earned his right to do what he did. Lebron never dogged or questioned his teammates in public, never threw Cleveland under the bus until he made the colossal mistake of The Decision. But again Lebron earned the right to be a jerk. Kobe, pre-Pau, earned the right to be a jerk when he demanded that LAL trade him. Go old school …. Jabbar earned the right to leave Milwaukee when he went to the LAL.
Ryan if you perform for your company and they treat you like SH** you’ve earned the right to move on to the other company.
But again what has EG done for us to deserve this. This actually angers me almost as much as making our city look like crap before the know-nothings on national TV. He’s crappped on the game and he doesn’t understand how the game, in every sense of the word, is played. Like my father and his old school friends would say … how DARE you.
Alrighty then, back to NBA 2012
Honestly no one has the right to be a jerk. EG, LeBron, or Kobe. Everyone has the right to be human though. Feelings get hurt all the time, most business practices treat people as assets but in the sports world it is more so. EG feels hurt and when a person feels hurt they most often lash out. People wanna go where they feel most welcome and lets be honest the fans of NO have not been supportive of EG since he got injured.
The Hornets made him an offer in January which he refused. At that time I’m sure they made know their reasoning and that the team would be built around him. So the draft comes and they draft the best possible talent at #10 which just happens to be a combo guard. Now, can you blame the Hornets for choosing the best talent available? Can you also blame the Hornets for finding a backup for our restricted, often injured combo guard? No. The Hornets extend you the same offer because nothing has changed. Is it a waste of their time and EG’s time to reiterate what you already know? I think so. Fair blame belongs to both EG and the Hornets. Any relationship has a learning curve and this is just a part of that process. When this deal was extended Mr. Benson wasn’t the owner. Maybe his agent should have sought to met the new owner and reopen negotiations but for whatever reason EG went on the campaign trail. Was it wise? No, because it was documented in the media that the Hornets were going to match. So, why not call the Hornets and say, you got $8M more but here are my concerns. I know this is in hindsight but EG and/or his agent aren’t doing anything to try and repair the relationship. I’m sorry that I’m not as forgiving as others and I think he’s going to be a pain during the season. I don’t blame Williams for not nursing this type of behavior and I just don’t have a good feeling about it. I hope I am wrong.
The one exception I would take to your story about you and your job as opposed to Gordon is that I presume you have earned the respect from your boss because of the great work you have done for him. Gordon has earned that kind of respect. To expect the Hornets to bow down and worship the ground he walks on is unrealistic. It is merited by the Suns because they are hoping to get a steal. I love your analysis, but I think Eric Freeman in Yahoo’s “Ball Don’t Lie” blog paints a more complete picture of the situation: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-ball-dont-lie/eric-gordon-really-wants-play-phoenix-tries-scare-232339869–nba.html
I meant, “Gordon hasn’t earned that kind of respect.”
Agree partially, but as soon as he signed the offer he came out and said that he wanted to be in Phoenix. Maybe that is why the Hornets have not contacted him. Seems to me that he made the first move to try and leave.
I wonder if perhaps Dell, Monty et al. don’t WANT Gordon around, and this entire process is a method to extract assets instead of giving the max contract to a player that is a) entirely tradable (just see last year, as he was traded for CP), b) ascending, but not really there yet, c) a substantial injury risk, and d) perhaps not entirely committed to the team vision the Hornets have in mind. If there is a long, sad history for teams that misapply max contracts, this is THE ONE DECISION a team cannot get wrong. And frankly, I think there are enough concerns with Gordon and his health that it may be better to not assume the risk of giving one to him. Or, if they really wanted him … he never would have hit the open market.
This is the best thought out comment on this blog. Its obvious they really do not want to keep him they just want good assets in return for him.
I think cooler heads will prevail in the situation. Once the Hornets match the offer which i think they should EG won’t care where his heart is as long as his pockets are filled. Monty during the draft stated that EG was th best player on he team and he shouldn’t be worried about Austin Rivers who i believe is the future point guard of this team so we don’t have to re-sign J.Jack after next season and get that contract off the books and splurge on a big man in next year free agency cause this years there is no Centers jumping off the page in free agency this year. So let Jason Smith play center so he can log minutes and i hear the hornets are talking to (stimisa i know mispelled his name lol) from boston who played pretty good off the bench last season. This is a process and i we can’t win a championship in 1 year so as a hornets fan we should put this EG situation behind us once they match and focus on what is best for the team and that envoles EG on the roster(my opinion) and let Dell and Monty do their Jobs and watch the hornets become a 1st class organzation and a powerhouse in the west in the next 3 years.
Houston S&T would be way more lucrative…We get a ton of young talent to help building and save money for next year…
Great post and I completely understand why he feels that way. But still, $58 million. So shut up, Eric Gordon.
If somehow you missed my thoughts on all of this– I agree with a lot of what Ryan said, but I do think Gordon is expecting a little too much coddling considering the public statements the Hornets have made as well as the reality that they can match any offer.
Here is another good assessment of the situation: http://www.cbssports.com/nba/blog/eye-on-basketball/19525838/eric-gordon-the-saddest-max-player-ever
In general< i don't see the national media having that much sympathy for Gordon.
My favorite current player in the league is Kevin Garnet. Why? Because he wants to win more than anything, and he is loyal to the game. He was loyal to the Timberwolves to a fault, he lost many great years of his career to keep playing there, even when it was obvious they would never win. Finally, he takes less money than he could have elsewhere to play with the Celtics for a chance to win. I don’t feel he places anything higher in his career than the chance to win with his team. Eric Gordon, by comparison, seems to be more concerned with his career and status than with winning. Sure, he want’s to win, but is it more important to him than being recognized as a great player? When I watched the finals this year, and saw Kevin Garnet on the sidelines cheering on his teamates on the court with just as much vigor as if he was on the court himself at that moment, I saw in that what a truly great team player is. One who leaves his heart on the court with his teamates, no matter what. I would like to see players like that on the Hornets team (or whatever the name of the team will be in the future) and I think AD & Rivers may be a good start in that direction. I don’t see any reason to think EG will be. He has let the difficulties of the business taint his attitude toward the game, whether those difficulties were his fault or not doesn’t matter (it didn’t for KG). What matters is what you do and how you present yourself, and so far EG has done little but show potential on the court, and presented himself in a rather immature manner. He’s not a great player to build a franchise around.
Agreed; always loved Garnett; in fact his is the only non-Hornet jersey I own.
I don’t blame Gordon. This is the worst fan base in the entire NBA. Who wants to play in front of empty chairs night in and out?
I’m gonna guess…Rockets fan? Maybe Lakers fan. Definitely not a Heat fan, he’d be too busy tanning to get online.
How do you think Seattle’s and OKC’s fan base was when they were bad?
Then came Durant, Westbrook, Durant, and as the team got better, the fan base grew.
I have no doubt in my mind that Anthony Davis and Austin Rivers and whoever else we may get will put butts in the seats.
Our future is bright, you are probably dome ignorant Suns fan. How is their future looking?
*some
OKC has had a sellout crowd ever since the Hornets evacuated there. N.O. never has and never will pack the house on any given night. This place is basketball hell and the top player on the hornets isn’t equal to the third string long snapper on the saints and free agents know this.
This would be better if you used facts or logic.
Actually, you are showing that you are an ignorant Hornets fan. Seattle actually has a great fan base and has been trying to get an NBA team back there. You probably wasn’t even born when Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp took the Sonics to the Finals huh.
Ryan Anderson is coming via S&T
I hope so. Can’t wait to get this sissy off the team
Let’s go Ryan Anderson! Sharp Shooter & a proven Rebounder. Hornets fans follow me on twitter @ShaneMettaLife. I will follow back & enjoy talking basketball
The Hornets haven’t called him directly. At all.
What’s the usual way that NBA teams handle such players? Is the way that Dell is treating this played-only-14%-of-games player the norm or not?
The usual way if a team really wants you is knocking on your door as soon as it is legally possible for a face to face meeting. A phone call if they want you to actually consider them as an option. A message to the media if they just wanna use you as a pawn to get more desirable assets.
Anderson is a good get. He can stretch the floor more reliably than Belli. I wonder if he will come of the bench or if Monty has now changed plans and wants AD starting at the 5 from day one. If Anderson is coming off the bench, he can spell AD and Chief with slower lineups. Heck, with smaller line ups, he could even spell Smitty. As Shane pointed out, RA hits the boards. That will be welcomed. AS far as the price, I’d like to thank Gus for the hard work last season. I also would like to thank the folks we renounced. I understand some may still be back, but Belli gave it all to the Bees, even if he couldn’t always be great, he worked hard. Landry loved NOLA. I will not forget that. And Kaman, despite his inefficient offense, took a difficult situation in NOLA and made it work. At times, he was great. I will root for you four wherever your careers take you. As for RA, welcome aboard.
We not planning on resigning Landry?
Maybe, but this seems to suggest otherwise:
John Hollinger: Hornets would presumably renounce Kaman, Landry and Belinelli in order to have room for Ryan Anderson.
Off topic here but Hornets just got Ryan Anderson in sign & trade for Gustavo Ayon!!!
I know it is easy to read posts many sorts of ways…I assume many pro-Gordon people read the sarcastic posts in a way that sounds like people are screaming at their computer and angry. I really don’t feel any attachment or emotion to him, but I can find his comments irritating. He sounds very entitled for such an injury prone young player. Hard working people are simply turned off by that…
One quick response if I may to your question: “…your boss responds by looking disinterested, shrugging and then later sending you an email that says “Whatever. We’ll match that offer you got.”
Wouldn’t you be bothered by that?”
Answer: I wouldn’t be offended if anyone agreed to pay me 58 million and a hefty percentage of their payroll. I might even feel “wanted.”
In my opinion, he just doesn’t want to be in N.O. and never has. These comments are just a way to put the blame on hornets managment rather than just say he doens’t want to be a hornet. They traded for him and he only plays 9 games and with his injury history they still are going to give him a max deal and that’s not showing they want him? Why wouldn’t they get a guy who plays his position when chances are he’ll miss games and they’ll need a backup. Besides they didn’t have many other options. He should be patient and give them a break much like everyone did for him while he was out
S&T Gordon to Orlando For Howard GET it Done..
Monty speaks about EG situation: http://www.nola.com/hornets/index.ssf/2012/07/new_orleans_hornets_coach_mont_61.html
I’m with you, Ryan.
If Gordon expresses true interest in staying here, I want him to stay. If he expresses true disinterest, trade him.
Do you think 2 weeks ago that Wahington would’ve taken Gordon for the #3 pick? Too late now, I’m so confused as to how I should think. One second I want the Hornets to match and bring him back and the next I feel we’d be better off without him.