Eric Gordon could end up in the backup wing spot for the Rockets when the season begins, as Kelly Iko of The Athletic writes. Houston has depth at the guard position but lacks it in the three/four spots.
Houston still has interest in Andre Iguodala, but Memphis appears to be holding out for a first-round pick, which could be a deal-breaker. JR Smith is a possibility. He had his best season under coach Mike D’Antoni when the pair were in New York, although Iko cautions that he hasn’t heard any new developments when it comes to bringing the 3-point marksman to Houston.
Here’s more from around the Western Conference:
- Iko doesn’t see Kevin Love as a realistic target for the Rockets, as he explains in the same piece. Love’s salary, which comes in at just under $29 million for the upcoming season, makes a trade difficult for the two parties.
- Britt Robson of The Athletic examines how the Wolves current roster fits in with the team’s blueprint for the future. Minnesota failed to pair Karl-Anthony Towns with another All-Star but smartly opted against overspending on middling talent. Minnesota’s 2019 free agent spending spree wasn’t a wild one, as it brought in five players who combined will make approximately $11 million this upcoming season.
- Kawhi Leonard attempted to get the Spurs to trade for Paul George while he was in San Antonio, as he tells ESPN’s Rachel Nichols (h/t Justin Russo on Twitter). Leonard was originally drafted with the No. 15 overall pick by Indiana, the team George previously played for. The Pacers traded Leonard’s rights, but George wishes the team had kept him, as Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN.com relays. “It seems like this was destiny that we were supposed to play together,” George said.
