Eric Gordon missed the first 29 games of the season, skipping out of New Orleans to rehab his knee (following surgery) back in Los Angeles. That didn’t sit well with then Hornets/now Pelicans fans.
When he did return, he was on a minutes/games restriction (for example, no back-to-backs until the very end of the season) and when he did play he wasn’t his old self. He averaged 17 points a game but only was shooting 40.2 percent, with a PER right at the league average of 15.4.
Gordon blamed part of that on injuries and, as we told you last week, he had surgery to clean up his ankles last week.
But it was worse than he let on — Gordon played through bone spurs after the All-Star break, reports the Times-Picyune.
Gordon’s numbers after the All-Star break were pretty similar to those before: He averaged 16.4 points a game before and 17.4 after, with an almost identical overall shooting percentage (his three point shooting did drop 5 percent). That said, his offensive rating (points scored per 100 possessions) did dive five points and his defense got worse. He wasn’t right.
Gordon will be back in Los Angeles much of the summer but may make some of the Pelican’s voluntary summer workouts, he told the paper. He was frustrated by the assortment of injuries last season slowing him down and said he just wants to get healthy.
The Pelicans are going to shop Gordon around this summer, but the likely will not find an offer for a max player coming off surgeries and a tough year.