Eric Gordon Rumor on ESPN

by MillerTime31 on Jan 16, 2012 6:31 PM EST

Could Gordon fit with the Pacers? I think so, but I'm not sure what ESPN thinks. Do we have an insider in the house? I'd really like to read about this, so if someone could potentially enlighten us commoners, it would be greatly appreciated. Instead of typing more b.s., I will just post the link and then post song lyrics, or something.

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/features/rumors?date=20120116&action=upsell&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fnba%2ffeatures%2frumors%3fdate%3d20120116#23727

I've paid my dues -
Time after time -
I've done my sentence
But committed no crime -
And bad mistakes
I've made a few
I've had my share of sand kicked in my face -
But I've come through

We are the champions - my friends
And we'll keep on fighting - till the end -
We are the champions -
We are the champions
No time for losers
'Cause we are the champions - of the world -

I've taken my bows
And my curtain calls -
You brought me fame and fortuen and everything that goes with it
-
I thank you all -

But it's been no bed of roses
No pleasure cruise -
I consider it a challenge before the whole human race -
And I ain't gonna lose -

We are the champions - my friends
And we'll keep on fighting - till the end -
We are the champions -
We are the champions
No time for losers
'Cause we are the champions - of the world -

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Here you go...

Tucked in a lengthy report about where contract extensions stand for some first-round 2008 picks with the deadline looming on Jan. 25, David Aldridge of NBA.com reported that due to the league still looking to sell the Hornets, Eric Gordon is in a “tough position” as “the likelihood of the league okaying a major financial commitment to anyone before the team is sold (Commissioner David Stern maintained last month that that could happen by the spring) is iffy.”

Aldridge also reported via a source that the team and Gordon’s representation are “working on it” in regards to an extension, but he also notes “Gordon might be reluctant to re-up with New Orleans until the team is sold, if at all.”

If nothing gets done by the deadline and Gordon ends up becoming a restricted free agent this summer, keep an eye on the Pacers making a play for him.

They still have cap space and there are rumblings Gordon would be agreeable to playing for his hometown team.

by reelmancoop on Jan 16, 2012 6:43 PM EST reply actions

so pretty much nothing new

Makes me feel more awful for Hornets fans though, potentially losing the centerpiece of the Chris Paul trade because you don’t have an owner. Read Jamal Mashburn (who’s made a FORTUNE post-retirement) is interested in being part of an ownership group, hope he can make that happen.

"He's like Darth Vader." - Frank Vogel on Larry Bird

by IndyPacers on Jan 16, 2012 7:07 PM EST up reply actions

Seconded - it's too bad things didn't work out in Charlotte

I remember watching that team that had a young Baron Davis, Mashburn, P.J. Brown, Eddie Robinson, etc. when they beat the Heat in the first round and then took the Buck to 7. Those games in Charlotte were always rockin.

Now New Orleans and Charlotte are stuck with shitty teams in a marginally more diluted league.

by pendulum55 on Jan 16, 2012 11:10 PM EST up reply actions

*Bucks

by pendulum55 on Jan 16, 2012 11:10 PM EST up reply actions

The original link to the Aldridge item...

Of more interest to me than Gordon, is this comment on Hibbert:

Roy Hibbert, Pacers (17th)

In this case, it appears the player is the one who’s reluctant to do a deal.

Hibbert has established himself as a promising young center, and big men are always in short supply. With the likes of Dwight Howard and Deron Williams unlikely to be on the open market next summer, no matter what they wind up doing, Hibbert and agent David Falk may gamble that the 25-year-old Hibbert can generate signficant interest on the free-agent market, even if he’s restricted.

“I’m not saying 100 percent we wouldn’t do (an extension), but I’d say it’s likely,” Falk said Friday. “He likes Indiana, it’s a great place, it’s worked out well. But it’s my opinon that generally, these things are hard to do. If I was an owner I wouldn’t do one unless I got a discount … I think more than anything else, the reason guys do extensions, in my opinion, is when you have a client who is insecure that he’s going to get paid. I went through this with Jeff Green a year ago. I tell the guys, don’t expect to get one. You’re doing the deal a year in advance, and all you’re getting is security. Centers don’t grow on trees. If the guy has the confidence to wait, he’s probably better off waiting.”

by reelmancoop on Jan 16, 2012 7:01 PM EST reply actions

much as it sucks

couldn’t blame Roy. Either way he’s going to get PAID, I have complete confidence he’ll be a Pacer for life basically. But he’s going to get a significant contract.

"He's like Darth Vader." - Frank Vogel on Larry Bird

by IndyPacers on Jan 16, 2012 7:04 PM EST up reply actions

Keep in mind

that this is the agent talking not Roy, although of course the agents are the driving seat a lot

by DougInOz on Jan 16, 2012 7:26 PM EST up reply actions

Also this quote:

If the guy has the confidence to wait, he’s probably better off waiting.

by DougInOz on Jan 16, 2012 7:27 PM EST up reply actions

big asterisk there

unless he blows out his knee.

Print It.

by Center on Jan 16, 2012 8:33 PM EST up reply actions

Or fades like he did last season.

And it's now my sig
by Bronn on May 17, 2011 4:56 PM EDT

by Sparhawk on Jan 17, 2012 9:31 AM EST up reply actions

Well...

Crap, I loved what he’s done this year, but I just know someone is gonna offer him something stupid and put us in a horrible position one way or the other.

"A champion is someone who gets up when he can't."
- Jack Dempsey

by infinityzero.systemerror on Jan 16, 2012 8:41 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah, my thoughts/fears exactly.

It would’ve been real nice if he had struggled so far this year, but Bird had enough faith to offer him a solid, fair deal. I was arguing with someone about his value in another thread. I said we were going to have to spend $7-8mil. (and I was being a bit conservative in saying that Granger is going to cost us when it comes to wanting to make even small upgrades as we extend our rookies).

And someone said we’d be lucky to get him for $10mil. I said, if he gets to that range let him walk b/c he’s not effective for long stretches of games to warrant spending near franchise money, despite the lack of big men.

Well, these last couple weeks he’s looked engaged, active, focused, and determined pretty much the whole time he’s been on the court and he’s been averaging 30+ minutes. If he can keep that up, unfortunately, he will probably earn $10-12mil. per this summer. And I like him, and if he stays healthy and keeps up this kind of play…I’m begrudgingly ok with paying that to keep him.

peac.e

by trucutter on Jan 16, 2012 9:31 PM EST up reply actions

See...

I don’t have a problem with 10-12 million, it’s when it goes over that I feel a bit uncomfortable.

"A champion is someone who gets up when he can't."
- Jack Dempsey

by infinityzero.systemerror on Jan 16, 2012 11:15 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

I don't either....

…if he’s playing 30+ minutes the way he has lately. But up until now I can only remember one or two games where’s he’s been effective for more than 50% of his time on the floor. In the past, usually from about 5 min. after the opening tip through most of the rest of the game (maybe minus a little stretch after half time) he either disapears or has looked too winded to do anything and he gets beat as a defender and front irons alot of shots.

But the past few games he seems to somehow be coming into his own and earning every minute out there on the floor. That Roy is worth 10-12.

peac.e

by trucutter on Jan 17, 2012 7:59 AM EST up reply actions

I remember a quote from Hibbert discussing the merits of declaring for the NBA early or staying in school

This was in an article comparing Dunleavy, who went to the NBA when his stock was highest and was the 3rd pick, to Hibbert, who stayed at Georgetown and saw his stock drop, to the decision that Gordon Hayward faced at the time.
Hibbert said that John Thompson told him that his second contract in the NBA was the one that mattered, so regardless of where he was drafted, the most important thing was to make sure he was ready to earn a big payday when his rookie contract expired. That seems to be where Hibbert is at in his skill level, and I can’t say I blame him for taking the path that is more advantageous economically for him.

by full sail on Jan 17, 2012 12:28 AM EST up reply actions

2 things

1. I followed your link and was halfway through a scathing email to ESPN for turning off my Insider access 2 months early when I reloaded and realized that the link simply took me to the non-Insider version of NBA Rumors.

2. The quote in there is from a piece Bills Simmons wrote for the 11th day of NBA Christmas. In other words, it was commentary about someone else’s feelings over the last few years, that was, itself, about a month old. Recycling rumors to keep the clicks coming. ESPN the Worldwide Leader in pandering to big markets/advertizers

Print It.

by Center on Jan 16, 2012 8:35 PM EST reply actions

o, and the quote:

“For years, Clipper insiders were worried about Gordon leaving in 2013 (when he becomes an unrestricted free agent) to play for his hometown Pacers.” – Bill Simmons, http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/7360397/the-eleventh-day-nba-christmas

Print It.

by Center on Jan 16, 2012 8:37 PM EST up reply actions

I don't want Gordon.

www.themindofshadow.blogspot.com/

by dbcb on Jan 16, 2012 11:07 PM EST reply actions

Not for max at least.

I’d give him mid level but that won’t happen so bring back George hill instead.

"A champion is someone who gets up when he can't."
- Jack Dempsey

by infinityzero.systemerror on Jan 16, 2012 11:16 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

You, sir, are correct.

by Jmahoney on Jan 17, 2012 1:15 AM EST up reply actions

I'm on board...

…so far.

peac.e

by trucutter on Jan 17, 2012 8:00 AM EST up reply actions

I don't want to lose Hibbert, please.

Lock him up for 5 years/$60 M now

by MillerTime31 on Jan 17, 2012 9:27 AM EST reply actions

That's the problem

He’s not going to sign now because he knows he can probably make $12-15 mil next year, or even more if he somehow turns into an All-Star. It’s our worst nightmare, having to pay twice what Hibbert is actually worth just because there aren’t any other 7-footers out there who are remotely as good or intriguing to other teams. DeAndre freaking Jordan makes $10 mil a year. He was a second rounder who has a 6-inch range and no post repertoire. Tyson Chandler has made an injury plagued career out of above average rebounding, marginal defense that everybody thinks is great defense, and ZERO offense…and he doesn’t make it to damn near every game like Hibbert does. This is a problem waiting to happen for our cap situation going forward.

"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.

by LukeNukem on Jan 17, 2012 9:41 AM EST up reply actions

Over $12????

Maybe. If so….let him walk.

DeAndre Jordan has more “potential” and where his shooting range is 6"…Roy’s vertical leap is 6". Jordan fits the role that most teams are looking for more than Roy. And let’s keep in mind LAC traded their young SG and picks for a franchise guy that can hit the open market soon so they have to prove they are in it to win it now.

peac.e

by trucutter on Jan 17, 2012 7:26 PM EST up reply actions

Additionally....

…if he regressess like last season…I wouldn’t even go $10mil. Just b/c other teams made the mistake of overspending….why should we?

peac.e

by trucutter on Jan 17, 2012 7:27 PM EST up reply actions

Not saying we should

But the market is what it is. We’ll have to overspend to keep him is all I’m saying.

"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.

by LukeNukem on Jan 17, 2012 11:01 PM EST up reply actions

Perhaps.

I mean…no doubt, but perhaps it won’t be as much as you think. The good thing is, we can match any offer. I almost wonder if Houston’s offer to Gasol wasn’t simply like a fantasy basketball auction draft manuever to make sure Memphis overpaid???? Could happen to us. I think we should start fake shopping Danny Granger in trades dropping hints like, “We love Danny, but we know we are going to be paying alot to keep our UFAs this summer.” That, if anything will probably scare bidders away more than a public statement saying we are going to match any offer….also, b/c I don’t think we should match any offer and we look bad if we say that and then don’t. But, that might be more niave/juvinile than any real proffesional GM would ever consider.

peac.e

by trucutter on Jan 18, 2012 6:13 PM EST up reply actions