Reactions to the Milwaukee Bucks’ reignited trade interest in Eric Gordon

The 2023 NBA trade deadline is just a few weeks away, and Milwaukee Bucks fans can add a new name to the list of rumored targets.

As reported by insider Marc Stein (Subscription required), the Bucks have an interest in trading for Eric Gordon of the Houston Rockets before the deadline. Stein mentions that the Bucks’ pursuit of Gordon has gone a similar way to how the team went after Nikola Mirotic in 2019 in the sense that they are looking to move four second rounders for him. However, Houston has maintained its firm asking price of a first round pick in any trade for Gordon.

Reactions to the Milwaukee Bucks’ reignited trade interest in Eric Gordon

This news isn’t overly surprising, given that the Bucks were linked to Gordon this past offseason. Back in July, The Athletic’s Kelly Iko (Subscription required) reported that the Bucks were one of at least six teams to express interest in trading for the veteran. The Rockets ultimately held onto the veteran, but it was only a matter of time before his name surfaced in rumors again, which it has.

Milwaukee’s interest in Gordon is easy to understand. The 34-year-old has made a living as one of the best sixth men in the NBA over the years, having won the mighty Sixth Man of the Year Award in 2016-17. Gordon has always been able to score and shoot the basketball at an extremely high level, and those are two attributes this Milwaukee team currently needs. Gordon also possesses no shortage of playoff experience, which would give the Bucks another battle-tested veteran.

The problem with Gordon is that the Rockets currently want a first rounder for him despite the veteran forward having one of his least productive seasons ever. Gordon is currently averaging 12.2 points per game, the lowest in his NBA career. On top of that, he is shooting 42.7 percent from the floor and 34.8 percent from three. Those numbers certainly do not reflect the value of Milwaukee’s highly coveted first round pick, despite their need for another scorer and shooter. Though it would be better than a first round pick, four second round picks would also be steep. The Bucks would also have to put together a package to absorb what remains of Gordon’s hefty $19.6 million salary this season.

If the Bucks are willing to trade away a cache of first rounders and a sizable chunk of their roster in a trade, Gordon may not be their best bet. Bojan Bogdanovic, whom they have also been linked to as of late, would be a much better option. Buddy Hield of the Indiana Pacers, who has not surfaced in trade rumors linked to the Bucks but has in rumors in general, would also be a better choice.

It would be beyond shocking to see the Bucks meet the Rockets’ demand for a first round pick for Gordon. They will continue to offer their second round picks, and if the Rockets won’t budge, the Bucks should move on very quickly.

Stay tuned to see if the Milwaukee Bucks make a push for Eric Gordon at the trade deadline.