Fans of the Phoenix Suns envisioned the franchise’s first championship in the 2023-24 season. The team added Bradley Beal giving them a dynamic trio alongside Kevin Durant and Devin Booker. Instead, they were swept in the opening round of the playoffs by the Minnesota Timberwolves. It seems as if veteran guard Eric Gordon does not want to stick around after the disappointing season.
Last offseason, the 35-year-old Gordon joined Phoenix on a two-year deal, with the second season being a player option. Shams Charania of The Athletic has reported that the 16-year veteran is turning down the option at $3.4 million.
Phoenix’s Eric Gordon is declining his $3.4 million player option for the 2024-25 season and becomes a free agent, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Multiple contenders are expected to pursue Gordon, who averaged 11 points on 37.8 percent 3-point shooting last season. pic.twitter.com/fQOp3zknsx
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 27, 2024
Veteran Guard Turns Down Player Option With Suns
Gordon signed with the Suns last offseason after splitting the 2022-23 season with the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Clippers. Phoenix mostly utilized Gordon in a sixth-man role although he did start 24 of his 68 outings. In 27.8 minutes per contest, he would average 11.0 points, 1.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.0 steals. The 6-foot-3 guard shot 44.3% from the field, 37.8% from three-point territory, and 79.7% from the foul line. With Phoenix getting swept in the first round, Gordon didn’t do much to help his team’s cause. Over the four games, he shot just 9-28 (although he did shoot 7-17 from beyond the arc).
Earlier in his career, Gordon was a very good scorer, although not quite at an All-Star level. He averaged more than 20 points in back-to-back seasons in 2010-11 and 2011-12 with the Clippers. Later, Gordon became one of the best bench scorers in the league. With the Rockets, he won Sixth Man of the Year in 2016-17 and finished as the runner-up in the following season.
Altogether in 886 career regular season games, Gordon has averages of 15.7 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 2.8 assists. His career shooting splits are .430/.371/.811. He has connected on 2,028 three-pointers, good for 16th-most in NBA history.
Phoenix Will Need To Retool Their Bench
Gordon is not the only key Suns reserve to decline their player option for 2024-25. Drew Eubanks did likewise a few days back. The 27-year-old Eubanks served as the backup center to Jusuf Nurkic last season averaging 5.1 points and 4.3 rebounds. There has yet to be confirmation as to what guard Josh Okogie will do with his player option. The 25-year-old has started 37 games for Phoenix over the last two seasons.
In Wednesday’s first round of the NBA Draft, the Suns traded their 22nd pick to the Denver Nuggets. That trade saw them slide down six spots and they selected forward Ryan Dunn 28th overall. The 21-year-old is seen by some as the best defensive player in the draft but someone who lost confidence in his shot at Virginia.
In free agency, the Suns won’t have much to offer other than minimum contracts. They are expected to re-sign 31-year-old forward Royce O’Neale who they acquired at last season’s trade deadline.
