sure they do. they have less guaranteed salary than the Rockets. Cut some of the non-guaranteed scrubs, and here it is. Same with the Rockets.
Deadspin notes an interesting possibility Gordon is refusing to play thru pain to spite NO for matching his PHX sheet. As they say, this may get very messy.
http://updates.deadspin.com/post/34718963316/there-is-something-fishy-about-eric-gordons-knee Earlier today, the New Orleans Hornets announced that all-star shooting guard Eric Gordon will be out indefinitely with a knee injury. Gordon has been dealing with pain in his right knee since having arthroscopic surgery on it back in February. Knees can be fickle, and the announcement that Gordon will be out for a prolonged period of time isn’t all that odd. What is odd, however, is how Hornets coach Monty Williams and GM Dell Demps are talking about the injury. From the Times-Picayune: “He’s processing some information right now and he doesn’t have any comment,” Demps said, without discussing just what that information was. “We don’t have any comment right now. We’re processing information and we will, at the appropriate time, give a statement.” […] “I’ve checked with Doc,” Williams said, “but for him to explain to me what’s going on with his body and then have Eric feel a certain way doesn’t matter. You know what I’m saying? If Doc says one thing and the guy is feeling another, then you have to … what am I supposed to say? What they seem to implying is that Gordon has been cleared to play by team doctors but is deciding to sit out for reasons that aren’t quite clear. Remember, Gordon was not shy about expressing his displeasure at the Hornets’ decision to match his offer sheet from the Suns. This could get ugly.
The language does seem odd and clearly much is not being said. I would say this is already ugly. Can it get uglier? Most definitely. But I got to feel for their fans. They not only lose cp3, but the main acquisition in return apparently wants to do his best not to play for them (this could turn out otherwise, just saying what it looks like).
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Gordon said its very painful. He said he doesnt know "at all" when or if he'll be be back this season.</p>— Joe Gerrity (@GerrityJoe) <a href="https://twitter.com/GerrityJoe/status/264059844468817921" data-datetime="2012-11-01T17:42:27+00:00">November 1, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Gordon contradicted himself. he said there is no damage, but there is damage. Very odd. Video soon.</p>— Joe Gerrity (@GerrityJoe) <a href="https://twitter.com/GerrityJoe/status/264059984298520576" data-datetime="2012-11-01T17:43:00+00:00">November 1, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Crazy he thinks there's a chance he might not even play this season...
it's only a dumb signing if he loses any value. And that will only happen if there's a clear medical career threatening issue. Atlanta got a draft pick out of an overpaid, aging Joe Johnson. So unless this is much more serious than what we've heard so far, he'll still have some value. Right now these interviews make it seem like it's either (A) him being a baby about pain, or (B) him outright being unprofessional about the whole Phoenix thing.
Look at that face. Dude wasn't thrilled when he got traded there.. and he balled towards the end last year to get the fat new contract (hopefully from a new team) He thought he had that and it got matched so he's sure as hell not pleased to remain there. His knee is fine. He finished the season last year and he's continued to rehab and rest all off-season. If he were in Phoenix I highly doubt he'd be having any of these knee "issues". He's also got a younger brother that plays at ASU... pretty sure he was looking forward to being in AZ.
