At this point, it is probably fair to expect the Philadelphia 76ers to be a bit more modest in the trade market. After all, the team already has the pieces to make a deep playoff run, and it is only a matter of developing consistency and good habits for a squad that is only starting to get healthy now despite being the same as last season.
However, the 76ers are almost mandated to do something on the transaction tables. Case in point? Look no further than Eric Gordon, who is basically a guarantee to get jettisoned due to the team’s situation with its two-way players in Dominick Barlow and Jabari Walker, whom they most definitely want to retain on the regular roster by converting their two-way deals into standard NBA contracts.
Gordon is the easiest to envision being cut to make room for those two. After all, he has overstayed his welcome in Philly and offers little to nothing at this point in his career. It does not matter if the 76ers have to trade him or outright waive him to make room — he can no longer stay with the franchise if they want to keep a couple of useful role players in the loop.
The 76ers keep delaying the inevitable with Eric Gordon
Gordon, who is now in his 18th season in the league, has only sniffed the court in six occasions this season. His three-point shot is still functional, but the sample size is so small to hold that in his favor. Everyone knows that he is a one-trick pony at this juncture, and the only thing keeping him on the roster is the gravitas he carries.
Having said that, the 76ers are not exactly bereft of experience nor mileage among its players. Gordon is not an indispensable locker room presence, either. After all, Philly already signed Kyle Lowry for that quasi-assistant coach role, constantly being in the ears of the younger players and giving them advice. Put simply, he is redundant to have.
The sooner the 76ers drop the inevitable hammer on Eric Gordon, the better. Both Barlow and Walker have been more than serviceable thus far, with the former even emerging as a fixture on the starting lineup. The front office does not have a lot of time to make improvements on the margins, and keeping Gordon will only continue to muddle things for them on that front.