3:52pm: The Hornets have matched the offer sheet, Marc Stein of ESPN.com reports, via Twitter. In a statement released by the Hornets (via John Reid of The Times-Picayune) Gordon backtracked from his earlier comment that "Phoenix is just where my heart is now."
"There is always a business element to the NBA when dealing with contracts, but I never lost my appreciation for the New Orleans Hornets,'' Gordon said in the statement. "I look forward to going on the court this season to make our team successful.''
SATURDAY, 3:17pm: The Hornets are about to release a statement announcing that they've matched Gordon's offer sheet, reports Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports (Twitter link).
WEDNESDAY, 5:07pm: Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today reports Gordon has signed the offer sheet, according to the Suns (Twitter link).
TUESDAY: 9:25pm: The Hornets are not scared off by Gordon's comments and will match the Suns' four-year, $58MM offer, reports Bucher (via Twitter).
JULY 5, 5:25pm: Gordon believes the Suns are more committed to his future than the Hornets, reports Ric Bucher of ESPN.com. "Phoenix just showed a lot more interest, overall, and definitely in how they negotiated," Gordon said. "I don't know what New Orleans' plans are for me. There are no negotiations right now."
JULY 4: 9:53pm: A league source has reiterated to NBA.com's David Aldridge (link via Twitter) that the Hornets plan on matching the offer sheet despite Gordon's desire to play in Phoenix.
JULY 3 9:56pm: Hoopsworld.com writer Alex Kennedy says the Hornets will meet with Gordon before deciding to match the offer, but according to Yahoo! Sports columnist Adrian Wojnarowski the Hornets will go ahead and match the offer sheet anyway (tweet).
9:33pm: Eric Gordon has committed to signing a four-year, $58MM max offer sheet from the Suns, tweets ESPN.com's Chris Broussard. With Deron Williams off the market, Gordon, a restricted free agent, might be the best player available.
From AZCentral.com's Paul Coro, Gordon released a prepared statement:
After visiting the Suns, the impression the organization made on me was incredible. Mr. Sarver, Lon Babby, Lance Blanks, the front office staff and Coach Gentry run a first-class organization, and I strongly feel they are the right franchise for me. Phoenix is just where my heart is now.
Due to the effects of a lingering knee injury, Gordon only played in nine games last season, but in limited time he still averaged 20.6PPG, showing flashes of the player most believe will be one of the league's best shooting guards over the life of this next contract.
The Hornets are expected to match this offer sheet.
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and matched
retaining Gordon should be the Hornets #1 priority
Maybe they can do a S&T. How about kendal marshal and a couple of first rounders for Eric Gordon. The asking price should be high because NOLA CAN and will probably match the offer.
I wouldnt trade Marshall straight up to take on that contract.. makes no sense. Hornets should either match, or not match. If they dont then they’d at least have cap space.
I don’t think the current CBA allows teams to do a Sign a trade when the player signs an offer sheet.
Yes! Go suns!
Why would Hornets match a deal for a player that doesn’t want to be there? Makes no sense…
Huh? Are you asking why the Hornets may want to keep around a high quality young SG? Even if he doesn’t want to be there he a) has to play and b) can easily be traded for another high quality piece after he’s signed. Why in God’s name would they let the guy they got for CP3 just sign with someone else for nothing? Because their feelings are hurt?!
Yea exactly you have to keep all your assets as much as possible especially with the way “super” teams are being built now in the NBA.
how about the $8.7m trade exception they just got from the lakers and a few draft picks for gordon. they could use that to trade for a few younger players and use the picks to continue to build through the draft
We’re under the cap at the time of the trade which means we get no trade exception.
I want to see the Suns sign him. NO wanted to talk to him again before deciding fully whether or not to match the offer sheet.
yep
well done
Have fun with a disgruntled “star” Hornet fans. haha dumb move by their management. Sign and trade makes more sense.
If Gordon REALLY didn’t want to be in New Orleans he would just play until he’s an unrestricted Free Agent and go wherever he desires. By signing offer sheets he knows N.O. will match, he’s signing up for 4 more years. It was all posturing…