New Orleans Pelicans guard Eric Gordon is working tirelessly in rehab to avoid another shoulder injury. Gordon has been sidelined since late November with what has been diagnosed as a left shoulder subluxation.
"He's trying to strengthen the shoulder - official reports I don't have," head coach Monty Williams told The Times-Picayune. "I do know he's trying to avoid surgery."
Gordon will be re-evaluated in two to three weeks to monitor his progress and determine whether season-ending surgery is necessary to repair the damage.
"I definitely want to play this year," Gordon said. "If there's a chance, I want to seriously try and make a comeback. It's basically up to me and my tolerance."
Gordon has dealt with injuries throughout his career and has seen the sideline far too often during his time with the Pelicans. Before this season, Gordon had been available for just 115 of 230 games. He has missed eight games and counting so far this season.
Gordon is under contract for just one more season with New Orleans (at nearly $15 million). While Nakia Hogan of Nola.com believes the Pelicans won't trade Gordon, he did concede "that could all change, though, if the Pelicans can get an attractive deal they believe makes them better immediately and helps their future cap space." Despite his low trade value at this point, the Portland Trail Blazers have been mentioned as a possible landing spot for Gordon.
New Orleans already has a logjam in their back court with Jrue Holiday, Gordon and Tyreke Evans. Moving on from the injury-prone Gordon and possibly bringing in a small forward could bring some much-needed balance to this roster. With Anthony Davis off to an MVP-caliber start to the season and a playoff hopeful-owner, the Pelicans can't sit around waiting for Gordon to give them small stretches of games here and there.
