NBA AM: Gordon Remains New Orleans’ Mystery Man

Gordon Remains New Orleans’ Mystery Man

The New Orleans Pelicans are an intriguing team heading into training camp. The squad boasts All-Star Anthony Davis and talented core members such as Eric Gordon, Tyreke Evans, Jrue Holiday and Ryan Anderson. The problem has been that the team has been decimated by injuries the past two seasons and even though the squad reached the playoffs in 2015, on-court chemistry is still a work in progress.

Despite the rash of injuries, the Pelicans flirted with 50 victories last season. But in order for the team to take the next step they’ll need someone to emerge as the true No. 2 guy behind Davis in the rotation. Perhaps the best player suited for that role is Gordon, an explosive scoring guard when healthy.

Gordon will be extra motivated to put his best foot forward entering the season. The veteran guard is in the final year of his deal and owed $15.5 million from New Orleans with unrestricted free agency looming next summer.

But is Gordon truly up for the task of being a nightly and dependable co-star?

The guard has missed a total of 79 regular season games the past three seasons alone. That number rises to 136 contests if you factor in the shortened 2011-12 campaign.

Davis believes Gordon is one of the primary reasons the Pelicans persevered down the stretch to snatch a playoff berth last season – a surprise for many observers.

“Eric coming back from his shoulder injury was a big reason we made our postseason run,” Davis said according to Nick Weldon of SB Nation. “I think a lot of people thought he was going to be out for the rest of the season. But to his credit, he put off surgery and worked really hard with his rehab to get back on the court.”

Gordon was acquired by New Orleans in December 2011. At the time, he was considered one of the better young up and coming guards in the game. But he seemingly didn’t want to be in New Orleans and was disappointed he couldn’t see things through with the rising Los Angeles Clippers, who had drafted him. Gordon also accepted an offer sheet from the Phoenix Suns in restricted free agency and asked New Orleans to let him go, but the Pelicans ultimately matched the deal any way.

All of these factors have created the impression of a rocky relationship between the franchise and player.

“I was growing into a leadership role in L.A.,” Gordon said. “I’d been through the rebuild there. Then to come to New Orleans to another rebuild … it was tough.

“I think what really ruined things, relationship-wise, was the contract situation. It was a weird situation. The fans thought I didn’t care … and that definitely wasn’t the case.”

In some ways, the Pelicans never received the rising star they banked on getting from the Clippers when they dealt Chris Paul. Whether it’s been injury, chemistry or frustration, it’s evident Gordon has regressed the past four campaigns.

Career Stat Splits

Los Angeles Clippers (three seasons / 196 games played): 18.1 points, 3.3 assists and 2.7 rebounds on 45 percent shooting from the floor

New Orleans Pelicans (four seasons / 176 games played): 15.4 points, 3.4 assists and 2.4 rebounds on 42 percent shooting from the floor

Gordon, now 26 and fully healthy, believes he still has plenty of good basketball left in the tank and that it’ll eventually all come together.

“The tough thing about basketball is that it’s not just about basketball,” Gordon said. “What’s kept me going is the belief that somehow, someway, you’re gonna figure it out and it’s gonna eventually work out for you.”

Retooled Hornets Looking for Consistency

The Charlotte Hornets spent the majority of the summer overhauling their roster. Seven new faces will be in training camp and the squad looks to prove their 33-win campaign last season was a fluke.

Last season, the Hornets ranked last in the league in three-point shooting. During the summer the franchise added Jeremy Lamb, Spencer Hawes, Jeremy Lin and Nicolas Batum to add more perimeter threats to the Hornets’ attack.

However, it still comes down to the big man inside. Charlotte is led by center Al Jefferson, but head coach Steve Clifford says the plan is to get him some help.

“Hopefully more five-man movement and quick decision-making,” Clifford told Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer. “If we can combine that with a good post game, … (Jefferson) is by far our best offensive player. He’s 10 years of 19 (points) and 10 (rebounds). But we can’t play where every play is to Al.”

Don’t expect a change in the top scorers in Charlotte. Jefferson and guard Kemba Walker will stay provide a hefty dose of the offense in the Queen City. However, the addition of Batum gives the team more playmaking and a different entry of attack offensively.

“He’s in a similar place to where [Hedo] Turkoglu was in Orlando as far as size and exceptional feel for the game,” Clifford said speaking of Batum. “If he’s open, he shoots it. If he’s not, he’ll drive. He’s as instinctual as you can ask of a player, and you can’t coach that.”

This is the second consecutive offseason that the Hornets have added a talented wing player. The Lance Stephenson experiment didn’t work last year, and he’s now in Los Angeles with the Clippers. Batum, on paper, seems like a much better fit for Clifford’s system. Whether he’s the piece to get Charlotte back into the postseason remains to be seen.