Houston Rockets are attempting to pick up a second lottery pick to offer Detroit Pistons
If trading Eric Gordon is going to help the Rockets acquire the first overall pick, it is going to have to be a trade involving a third team.
The Detroit Pistons have no use for the 32-year-old guard, who is due roughly $20 million in each of the next two seasons. Detroit is in the midst of its rebuild, and adding an expensive veteran would hinder the development of their young prospects as well as wreck their salary cap space.
The Rockets are going to have to find a lottery team that is trying to contend next season if they want any hope of acquiring the first overall pick. Gordon alone is unlikely to net Houston an additional lottery pick, but the Rockets have the 23rd and 24th overall picks in the draft to package into a deal as well.
It appears that Houston might have found their trade partner in the Indiana Pacers.
Report: Pacers have talked with Rockets about trade of No. 13 draft pick https://t.co/BrL8R3b0L1
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) July 11, 2021
While it is unclear exactly what a trade between these two franchises would look like. The centerpieces from both teams appear to be Gordon from the Rockets and the 13th overall pick from the Pacers.
Indiana just hired Rick Carlisle as coach. They are not interested in a long rebuild.
If the Rockets can pull off a trade that nets them the 13th overall pick, reports indicate they will offer a trade package to Detroit centered around the second and 13th picks in exchange for the first overall pick.
The question would be then, is that the ‘Godfather offer’ the Pistons have been waiting for.