Gordon: If Hornets match, ‘I’d be disappointed’

Eric Gordon’s got a lot on his mind.

The shooting guard, who’s got four years of NBA experience
under his belt, is not only trying to nail down a spot on
U.S. Olympic team, but is also attempting to wiggle his
way out
of New Orleans to play for the Phoenix Suns.

Gordon agreed to sign a 4-year, $58 million offer sheet
from the Suns earlier this week which the Hornets are
expected to match despite the guard’s insistence that he
doesn’t want to play in The Big Easy.

According to Jimmy Smith of the New Orleans
Times-Picayune, Gordon spoke out Friday in Las Vegas,
where Team USA tryouts are being held, and said he feels
neglected by the Hornets organization.

“If (the Hornets) were interested, there wouldn’t have
been no tour, there wouldn’t have been nothing,” Gordon
said. “There’s been no negotiations. I was right there in
Indiana. I haven’t received no calls, to me personally,
they’ve contacted my agent.”

Gordon was also asked if there was anything New Orleans
could do to change his mind.

“I don’t think there is.”

But that may (and probably will) be immaterial. Gordon
was the key piece in the Hornets’ trade with the Clippers
that sent Chris Paul to L.A. last winter. Despite his
reluctance to return, the organization holds the cards,
something that Gordon is aware of, according to Joe Gerrity of
Hornets247.com.

“I’m a basketball player at the end of the day. Where I’m
at, I’ve just got to play ball. But as of right now, it’s
going to be for the Phoenix Suns. If they match, I’ve got
to play basketball.”

The league’s moratorium on player movement ends July 11,
at which time Gordon can sign his offer sheet from
Phoenix. New Orleans would then have three days to match
that offer to keep Gordon in a Hornets uniform.

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