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Clips working on Eric Gordon extension
Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2011 11:55 pm
by mkwest
PLAYA VISTA, Calif. -- Los Angeles Clippers general manager Neil Olshey has maintained since the lockout unofficially ended last month that he had three primary pieces of business to take care of this offseason.
First on that list was matching DeAndre Jordan's sure-to-come offer sheet as a restricted free agent, which the Clippers officially did Monday night when they equaled Golden State's four-year, $43-million deal. Second was upgrading the small forward spot, which they did last week when they signed Caron Butler to a three-year, $24-million deal.
Now comes the third part: negotiating a contract extension with guard Eric Gordon and agent Rob Pelinka.
The fourth-year player is eligible to sign a rookie-scale extension any time between now and Jan. 25. If no deal is reached by then, Gordon will become a restricted free agent next summer and the Clippers would likely have to match a substantial offer from another team to retain him.
Gordon turns 23 on Christmas Day, also the day of the 2011-12 season opener. For his part, he says he can't see himself anywhere other than L.A. -- despite the fact that he was included in the trade talks with New Orleans in the potential deal for Paul.
"I've always looked forward to being on this team," Gordon said Tuesday. "We have a great team.
"I wouldn't leave here at all. I wouldn't think about it."
Pedro Moura,
ESPN Los Angeles
Re: Clips working on Eric Gordon extension
Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 12:12 am
by donemilio21
well, its gonna take a max contract to retain him for sure.
He is very undervalued along the league right now, but once people realize the he is the best under-30 SG in the league, teams are gonna be lining up.
Re: Clips working on Eric Gordon extension
Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 7:00 am
by thanumba2clippersfan
I hope that we can get some sort of extension done with Gordon. We need to let him know that he is an important part of the team and we really value him.
Spotlight on EJ
Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 7:02 am
by Ranma
I'm ecstatic that extending Eric Gordon is the next order of business. While he's been under-rated for a while, I don't think he's worth a max contract at this moment, although I'm not as uncomfortable about it as I would be with the new CBA limit of four years total at any given time for a non-designated player's contract. Hopefully, the overpayment of DJ's offersheet won't hurt too much with EJ's negotiations.
The good news about all this focus on his inclusion of a speculative trade package for Chris Paul is that the spotlight has been shining on him where it seems like everyone is coming out to extoll the virtues of Gordon's game.
Maybe it's just me but he's also smiling a lot more based on the media photos provided in the
Training Camp / Media Day thread. He certainly didn't look like this last year with Barren Davis around.
Re: Spotlight on EJ
Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 7:18 am
by mkwest
Ranma wrote:Maybe it's just me but he's also smiling a lot more based on the media photos provided in the
Training Camp / Media Day thread. He certainly didn't look like this last year with Barren Davis around.
Eric smiling more has been very noticeable. Is anybody surprised that Baron has missed the first few days of camp with a back strain? We could have come into this season with Bledsoe out 2 months and Baron on the injured list.
Re: Clips working on Eric Gordon extension
Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 1:26 pm
by RiversideClips
Gordon is the key to this team. I hated the pick originally,saw him Vs. OKC (sat in Row #2) & then admitted that "I was so Wrong" about him.
I think he is a humble dude that needs to be comfortable before he shows too much emotion, he knows that he is wanted and appreciated by team mates,management & the fans, so he is more "chill."
EJ is a monster & I really think the addition of Chauncey will benefit all our guards, especially MO, who can be a tru combo guard. Could you imagine if we ever went to a quick 3 guard team w/ Mo,Chauncey,EJ & Blake/DeAbdre upfront? Exciting!