The Los Angeles Clippers will not guarantee the $20.9MM Salary that is owed to Eric Gordon, therefore allowing him to become an unrestricted free agent.
The decision to let Gordon walk was made with the luxury tax in mind. Clippers management was content with how the 34-year-old performed in his time with LA, per Andrew Greif. Though, they would like to give some more minutes to younger players. Getting rid of Gordon’s contract will reduce the tax bill from $169MM to $59MM.
The Clippers acquired Gordon in a three-team deal at the trade deadline last season. He averaged 11.0 PPG and shot 42.3% from three-point range in his 22 regular season games with the Clippers and put up similar numbers in the playoffs.
Many playoff-contending teams could use the services that Eric Gordon offers, though they may not be willing to pay the amount that he was set to make. Free Agency is set to begin Saturday which means Gordon may get many offers within the first couple days. The Clippers have both Bones Hyland and Terance Mann who are looking to see more action on the court this upcoming season. The front office plans to bring back Russell Westbrook, but it’s not likely that he comes back either. The Clippers can only offer him their $3.8-million non-Bird exception.
He could have guaranteed his fourth-year salary by making an All-Star team or reaching a minute requirement in a championship season. Though, the Clippers lost to the Phoenix Suns in the first round.
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