Eric Gordon has said no to the Hornets last contract extension proposal and will enter the market as a restricted free agent this summer, according to Yahoo’s Marc Spears. Hornets247 sources have confirmed this info
The Hornets reportedly offered Gordon a four-year deal for what sources tell Hornets247 was roughly worth a little over 50 million dollars, and he said no in the closing hours of Wednesday night. Midnight ET was the deadline by which extensions had to be completed. Without a deal in place, Gordon will head to restricted free agency this summer, where the Indiana Placers (who have long coveted the Indiana born and raised shooting guard) are expected to make a play for him.
While the Hornets will be able to match any offer made to Gordon in free agency, it’s well known that the Pacers crave a player like Gordon both on the court and off. They will likely be willing to offer top dollar (4 years-58 million, maximum) for Gordon, and the Hornets will be forced to match that if they want to keep their currently injured star, who has played in just two of 18 games this season.
In a worst case (highly unlikely) scenario for the Hornets, Gordon would just accept the one year qualifying offer that the Hornets will make this summer, but it’s only for 5.1 million, significantly less than the 12.5+ million a year the deal the Hornets have already offered him. If he were to take the 5.1 million, he would enter unrestricted free agency in the summer of 2013 and could choose his own destiny, but the Hornets would still possess the ability to offer him more money and years than anyone else.
Hopes will remain high that the organization will get him under a long-term contract this summer, but there is no mistaking the short term disappointment that comes from news like this. The Hornets had been on a fairly long winning streak (off the court, of course) prior to this. Today marks a distinct let-down on the business side of things. The Hornets wanted to lock down their alleged superstar, the fans wanted him to be locked down, and Gordon himself wanted to be locked down.
In the end this could wind up just being an afterthought of an otherwise beautiful relationship between Gordon, who thought he wasn’t offered enough money, and the Hornets, who thought their offer was more than fair. At the same I can’t help but wonder why this decision came down to the wire, why Stern only gave his approval yesterday, and why we still have yet to hear specifics about what is wrong with Eric Gordon’s knee. Only when those questions are answered will we truly be able to paint a complete picture and understand the full implications of what took place this evening.
Until then, I suggest each and every one of us take some advice from signs, artwork and graffiti around the city– Think that you might be wrong.
60 responses to “Eric Gordon Says No to Hornets Contract Extension, Will Become a Restricted Free Agent”
I’m not susprise i hope they trade him with his history of knee injuries he’ll be a huge risk to keep long term get some more draft picks and rebulid he’s not worth it.
What history besides this year?
J, have you had anything nice to say about the Hornets or Gordon? What knee injury history are you referring to? The one time in his career, college included, he has missed games due to a bruised knee? His only other injury problem was a broken wrist last season, kind of a freak injury and not a recurring problem.
Wowwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!!!!!!!
Inb4superoverreaction
I think his turning it down is more about wanting to play at home in Indiana than not wanting to play in NOLA. Also, he probably thinks (and is probably right in thinking) that he can get a max extension from teams that need a player like him and have cap room, like Indy. I doubt we were offering a max extension, and really I don’t think he deserves it until he proves he can stay healthy. Even Kevin Love didn’t get one.
I’d say it’s time to explore trade options. But only for semi-proven young talent, not for a good-but-reached-his-ceiling guy like Danny Granger, more for someone like Paul George or something similar
or both of them
I wouldnt mind a Paul George and Danny Granger for Eric Gordon..Paul George at 21,shows promise in future and Granger(28)besides being a N.O. native is also a good player for the next 3 years. Granger (28) and Ariza (26) can help make George(21) and Aminu(21) grow.But who knows a lot of this season has Question marks around it so anything can happen.
I’m disappointed. I see this as a big risk for Gordon because of the knee injury.
Let him be the Pacers problem.
Yeah right. David west is the pacers problem now. Oh and Darren Collison too. Hornets need to put a stop on this. Keep the good one’s that is ours.
So he has turned down the free because he felt as though he deserved max money.. Fan of his game, but I applaud the Hornets because they didn’t give into the pressure in feeling as though they had to offer a MAX deal to a guy that hasn’t shown anything in NEW ORLEANS. I feel as though everything will work itself out and I am STILL very excited to what the future of the franchise holds. maybe if EG can prove to be healthy for an extended period of time he will be allowed to take part in the good times that are sure to come. geaux Hornets
again, nothing lost.. if Gordon plays well this season, and a team offers him a max, we can just simply match.
if Gordon doesn’t play well, market is diminished, we can sign him to less than the max.
Why is everybody so eager to let a superb two way player like Gordon go? GOD.. it’s getting frustrating..
he is too much of a risk to keep why have someone that have bad knee and doesnt want to be here if he want to go to the Pacers let him no one is not going to hold his hand to keep him like we did with CP3 get Hibbert,George Hill and their 1st rd pick and call it a day besides with 3 1st rd picks we can get Davis,Gilchrist and Lamb
What is wrong with wanting more money? and “bad” knees?! Has he ever had surgery on them? Doctors say “rest” so i doubt it needs surgery. It’s just a BRUISE…
I don’t want to put my faith in 3 draftees, even in this strong draft class. Gordon at least provides PROVEN efficient offense. He’s already said he wants to stay in New Orleans and is excited to play for Monty and Dell. He’s just asking for a bit more. I’m sure if Dell had more time, Gordon would be locked up by now.
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with wanting more money, we all do everyday. There’s also nothing wrong in not offering him that money because we don’t think he’s worth it. Eric Gordon gets injured and misses ~20 games every year. None of them are chronic injuries, but some guys are just build a little less sturdy than others and at some point you have to accept that it’s a pattern.
His injuries definitely aren’t Brandon Roy type injuries that could end his career at any moment, but they are enough to make you think “hmmm, do I really want this guy eating up a max salary when he seems to always miss 20 games a year, he hasn’t really shown he wants to stay here, and he hasn’t shown he can carry a team to the playoffs”
some one on this shite send me a link where this kid has openly come out an said he wants out and wants to go to indiana just cause thats what people think doesn’t mean its true why would he turn down a chance to say the hornets is my team I’m the new face of this franchise until he comes out and says I’m there is 100% chance I’m walking away and playing for the pacers and donot want to play for the hornets than ill believe all his commotion until than give it a rest and stop hating on the guy
There’s that little issue of the qualifying offer and him walking next year…
How about O.J Mayo in free agency?
I perdict we match Indys offer in the offseason and we resign EJ. Then we build around Gordon and our draft picks and become a title contender in 2015. We would be like the new Thunder…
I AGREE WITH SOUTHPAW..
I think it’s totally sensible except for the fact that it seems like the player we are trying to build around doesn’t seem to interested in sticking with us for very long, at least it seems that way right now. Let’s just hope this turns out well..We Hornets fans deserve it.
We can negotiate with him informally through the season while gathering data, making moves, etc., then go into negotiations with the most possible information about Gordon, the roster, payroll outlook (“cap”), our picks (the actual drafted guys), the owner, etc.
This extension was a bonus.
We don’t want Gordon; we want what’s best for the team and Gordon is one of our options, a fine looking one, but just one.
This is best case scenario for us.
I like Gordon. But this injury worries me. Out 2 months for a bruised knee??? It doesn’t make sense… Even a bone bruise doesn’t keep a guy out that long…
If he can come back, play like an allstar… Then we match whatever he gets offered…
If he stays hurt, we can either let him go or sign him at his new decreased value…
I view this as a win, because I would hate to pay a guy 50 mil+ to start hurt for 4 years…
Gather more info about the man and his knee… Then make a decision this summer…
If it were to be supportive of Wade or Kobe, I bet he would agree to an even lower value.
Commissioner Gordon was born to be Robin. He wasn’t born to be Batman. I’m very disappointed in you, mr. Gordon.
How on earth would Gordon be a supporting cast member for Wade or Kobe? Gordon is a shooting guard who is 22 years old. Wade and Kobe are shooting guards who are combined over 50 years old.
Huh?
I think he means that he would have extended if we had better players on our team.
Exactly, James.
I think a better offer from the Hornets will change his mind. There is a feeling that if he is offered more, he is being valued more. If you trade him now, then we lose the value we got from Mr. Paul. As some of you guys mentioned, even Kevin Love did not get Max contract. And the hornets having no real owner complicates the matter.
Let’s all just relax and see how it all plays out. Now that I have thought about it I am starting to believe that Gordon’s injury will not be that much of a long term problem and he knows it. Just think about the risk e would be taking if the injury was to serious. If he was really that concerned about the injury then he would have hurried and signed the offer the Hornets offered him. No need to rush him back at all. Let the injury get fully healed and allow him to be 100 percent mfor the last quarter of the season so he can show his worth!
Nobody should panic. Everybody did what they thought was best for them. We are right where we should be with Gordon. We have the upper hand being we can either match any offer sheet or offer more than anybody. Guys at this stage of their careers are trying to make the most money. If EG goes out and earns a max deal by A) playing like a top 25 players and B) staying healthy we as a franchise(and hopefully with a new owner/s) can sign him worry free. However if he fails to meet expectations or fail to remain healthy we can probably sign him for less. If all else fails we can always trade him and recieve some value. We’re clearly in a can’t lose situation. So don’t panic this played out prefect for us.
At this point our biggest concern should be trading Okafor, Ariza, and Jack. For a young center and maybe another wing player if Gordon can’t be retained, and playing all the young guys.
I don’t care right now. All that matters is…
GUSTAVOOOO!!
So at the end of the day, we pretty much gave up CP3 for nuthin.
That is far from true.
What it is that is bothering you?
Certainly not a sign to panic and get what you can. Im very glad that the franchise is showing that it has the balls to not give in and go against it’s (management) gut to not offer this one fantastic player a contract that exceeds their personal evaluation of his value. This is the difference between Demps’s management and Bower’s, have the stones to do what you think is right and not overpay players to satisfy the short term.
One more thing to consider- if Gordon got his contract yesterday, that 13-15 mil would go on the books starting July 1st, giving the Hornets less cap room. Instead, they will be on the hook for just the 5.1 mil offer they make, then they can spend up to the cap and then go over the cap (but under the lux) and give Gordon that very same deal.
It really made zero sense to lock Gordon up yesterday, unless they could get a discount. EG wasn’t willing to give one, so no harm no foul.
Seriously, it is NOT a big deal.
Everyone please read this comment. Sums the situation up perfectly. Everything is going to be fine! Both parties did what was in their own best interest for the time being. Things will work themselves out after the season, and everyone will forget last night ever happened.
Well…I’m hoping it’s all part of the plan.
It may be hard for Hornets fans to see the implications of EJ not accepting our current offer, in a season where we’ve won just 3 of our first 18 games, and lost our two franchise cornerstones in CP and D-West, fans obviously wanted something to cling to, and picking up EJ for a four year deal would have been a great thing for fans to cling to.
It’s too early to tell whether Eric Gordon is worth the max, but now we are in a position to let the rest of the league decide what he’s worth, and we get the luxury of deciding whether or not he’s truly worth the asking price.
Keep ya head up folks, the only reason EJ won’t be a hornet in the long term is if he hasn’t shown to us that he’s worth a max deal, and if he doesn’t show us that in the next 6 months than chances are we won’t care too much about seeing him go.
i think the extension(though discounted) was offered out of courtesy to the guy, this off season, we will be in a better position on how to assess his real value. i still think he’s not worth the max
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Well we now know Mr. Gordon has some big ol’ brass cajones and supreme confidence in his game to walk (or limp … how *is* that knee feeling, Eric??) away from that kind of money. We also know now he kinda/sorta/maybe wants to play here and hang out in NOLA, but not really if he gets slightly more money in the grand scheme of things. Even if the Hornets match and offer him max next summer, he can still move on to Indiana at somewhat lower money like Lebron a few years ago …. correct? I understand the advice of those who say now is not the time to panic and I agree. But I also imagine we’ll now see trades to assure the franchise value for the Paul deal. Kaman I’m sure will be flipped; I *think* we’ll keep Aminu (unless Henry starts to blossom) …. do we at least think about trading Gordon???
On Gordon: Incorrect. He would likely have to take a good deal less on a 1 years deal in order to earn the right to walk a year later, unless we just let him walk.
Gordon will likely be restricted. LeBron was unrestricted. The difference was determined by where they were in their careers according to the CBA at the time, and the current CBA agrees with the prior one in the relevant aspects here. There are slight differences such as how big the deal can be and how long the team with the first right of refusal has to respond . . . these don’t affect the rights.
Ahhh I see, Hornets still have the leverage in that case. Thanks for the enlightenment
I still imagine we flip Kaman sooner rather than later, maybe to a contender who needs a Big off the bench who can hit mid range jumpers. Get another draft pick perhaps and an expiring contract.
I think you are correct on all counts.
Y’all, whats the big deal? Gordon thinks he’s work Kevin Love money, and the Hornets don’t. It’s that simple. Also, if anyone on this site were a pro athlete about to enter a period where they had to make decisions about their career, would they honestly want to stay in a place with no discernable direction? That answer is no. Gordon’s decision makes perfect sense to me, and I’m not the least bit surprised by it.
The Hornets are not going to trade Gordon, at least not now. Demps/Stern was wise to stand their ground in Gordon’s contract negotiations, and I believe Gordon will find out this summer that the other 29 teams in the NBA don’t think he’s worth a max deal either. If the Hornets have an owner by the beginning of free agency, I believe Gordon eventually signs an extension stays.
Has it crossed anyones mind that the Hornets (or better yet David Stern and the league) want to hold Gordon out so the Hornets can tank this season and possibly get the top pick. How attractive would the Hornets then look to a potential owner with a potential all start guard and two lottery picks? Remember back in the day.. the year before the Spurs drafted Tim Duncan. David Robinson got hurt and was out for the season. With Robinson the Spurs were very competitive but would have never been championship material. That Robinson injury changed the fortune of the Spurs forever, because they then got the top pick, drafted Duncan, and the rest was history. The longer EG sits out the better! We have no shot at the playoffs now so him coming back and helping us win games is only gonna hurt our draft stock.
Agreed
Sorry what does not extending Gordon have to do with him sitting out? He’s not playing due to injury not lack of a contract.
There is one reason not to play him: medical.
If they were hampering his free agency value in the way you suggest, the NBA would be begging to give the NBPA 57% BRI again from to settle the lawsuit.
In case anyone missed it, the NBPA forced the lockout and lawsuits plus gave $3B over 10 years, left money on the table this year, and agreed to an aggressive season all for free agency value (basically). They will not tolerate such meddling.
As long as the Horaints are losing and Ayon should be in the starting line up and Gordon about to cry river getting more draft picks might not be a bad idea.besides you can use the 3rd 1st rd pick as a trade chip for a player.
do anyone believe it’s going to take new ownership to re sign Gordon because with the current situation of the leauge owning the team?
My concern is if the T-wolves win more than 20 games you can kiss that lottery pick goodbye.
If by “lottery” you mean “top 5” then yes, kiss it goodbye, but 20 games won’t get them into the playoffs. For all the talk about how good (read: not awful) the twolves have been, they still aren’t a playoff team right now.
Everyone also seems confused about the lottery. Even if we have the worst record, it’s not guarantee we get the top pick. I think the top team is guaranteed no worse than 4th, but teams that finished further up in the standings have won the lottery before…that’s why they call it a LOTTERY
The team with the worst record is more likely to get the 4th pick than any other.
No team has the top pick as their most likely outcome.
I think what is upsetting fans the most about this situation is the way it is paralleling past situations, i.e. Baron Davis and Chris Paul. Up to this point, Gordon has not given us any indication that he wants to be here. Sure he said that to the media, but CP said much of the same things. Words don’t mean anything if you can’t back them up. Although Gordon seems more reserved than Paul, his body language is saying a lot. If you notice during time out huddles, he just standing around. He doesn’t get excited for the team when a big play occurs. You rarely see him interacting with anyone. And those of you who follow him on twitter, he only tweets about his Indiana Hoosiers or the Colts. Never anything about the Hornets or the city. Those types of things have fans believing that he does not want to be here. And really it’s his choice, but don’t string us or the organization along. If he doesn’t want to be here, Dell needs to get the wheels spinning on a plan B. We cannot rebuild a franchise with players that do not want to play here. That is one of the main reason Dell should have tried to resign Thornton! Thornton wanted to be here and he would have given you his all. It can’t always be about defense Monty! You have to play BOTH sides of the ball and Thornton helps the side the Hornets are most weakest, on top of the fact that he was a fan favorite and he put butts in the seats. At some point, the new regime will get everything on track, probably after we obtain a new owner. But right now, we just have to be patient!
The wounds of the past are speaking, and so is ignorance.
Sadly, we can only help with the one.
Time and some good things happening will lessen the other.
True dat, we are ignorant to what really going on in Hornets front office. But as stated, everything will get on track once we have new ownership. That is the most important acquisition to this franchise!!!!
I agree I don’t think Gordon wants to be here, but who knows? Only time will tell.I also would love to have Thornton back he is a good player who can create his own offense and that’s what we need. I think he would have come around eventually on the Defensive end but hey we as fans can’t control who stays and who goes but if a player heart seems to be else where let them go. I’m just hoping that we find a owner and the team stays in N.O. 1st after that then we can focus on players egos but the future is still bright and the team will only get better.
[…] to be a knee contusion and he will miss three to six more weeks as a result. Gordon, who last night turned down what Hornets247 learned was a four year contract extension worth just over 50 million do…, has played in only two games this season after being acquired in the deal that sent Chris Paul to […]
Thank God he said no, do the hornets a favor!!! EG has miss 100+ games in his career already! So what does that tell you? He cant stay healthy (Danny Manning, Tracy McGrady, Micheal Redd!!!) He will be a coulda,woulda been!!!