The Golden State Warriors are on the cusp of a game-changing move that could supercharge their championship aspirations. With Stephen Curry’s return from injury hanging in the balance, the Dubs are eyeing a savvy buyout addition to bolster their spacing and veteran savvy. Enter Eric Gordon, the 37-year-old sharpshooter and former Houston Rockets Sixth Man of the Year, whose $3.6 million skill set might just be the perfect complement to Chef Curry’s offensive wizardry.
Initially, all signs pointed to the Warriors snagging former No. 2 overall pick Lonzo Ball to fill their last roster spot. A report from The Stein Line’s Jake Fischer dropped the bombshell on Saturday morning: “As the Warriors are working to convert two-way guard Pat Spencer to a roster spot, Golden State also has its sights set on adding Lonzo Ball via the buyout market.” It seemed like a done deal, with Ball’s playmaking and defense poised to inject new life into Golden State’s second unit.
But hold the phone—Fischer’s colleague, Marc Stein, threw a curveball, suggesting the Ball buyout might not materialize after all. This unexpected twist has the Warriors pivoting hard, scanning the market for alternatives that can deliver immediate impact without the drama. And that’s where Gordon emerges as a prime candidate, according to Heavy’s Keith Watkins.
Watkins breaks it down perfectly: “The Warriors need spacing, particularly with Butler out and Curry’s return timeline unclear. Gordon provides that in a low-usage role. He doesn’t need plays run for him or extended minutes. He just needs to make defenses respect his shooting and keep the floor open for Golden State’s primary options.” At this stage, Gordon isn’t the explosive athlete he once was, but his knockdown three-point shooting remains a weapon defenses can’t ignore.
Sure, there are caveats. “The defensive concerns are real,” Watkins notes. “Gordon can be targeted in matchups at this stage of his career. The Warriors would need to surround him with enough size and defensive ability to compensate.” But in a title-chasing squad like Golden State, where Draymond Green and other versatile defenders can cover for vulnerabilities, Gordon’s upside shines brighter than the risks. “But for a team looking for one simple tool to help in the stretch run, Gordon’s shooting and veteran presence check that box.”
Gordon’s journey to this point has been a testament to longevity. Drafted seventh overall in 2008, he earned his Sixth Man stripes in 2017 with the Rockets, averaging 18 points off the bench on scorching efficiency. Now, at 37, he’s still got it—evidenced by his brief stint with the Philadelphia 76ers this season, where he averaged 5.5 points on an eye-popping 57.1% from the field and three in just six games. Traded to the Memphis Grizzlies last Thursday and promptly waived, Gordon is now a free agent, ripe for the picking.
The 6-foot-3 guard brings nearly two decades of NBA wisdom, having battled in high-stakes playoffs and adapted to multiple roles. Imagine him spotting up in the corner, pulling defenders away from Curry’s gravity-defying drives, or knocking down clutch triples in crunch time. It’s a low-risk, high-reward power play that aligns perfectly with the Warriors’ win-now ethos.
As the buyout market heats up, Golden State isn’t wasting time. Converting Pat Spencer opens the door, and snagging Gordon could be the bombshell that propels them deeper into the postseason. Will this be Steph’s new secret weapon? If the fit is as seamless as it looks on paper, the Dubs might just cook up another title run. Stay tuned—this story is far from over.