Hornets match Eric Gordon’s offer sheet on Saturday

Update 6:16 p.m.: The Hornets officially matched the offer this afternoon. Gordon is under contract to the New Orleans Hornets for four years. Damage control time!

The Hornets weren’t kidding around. They weren’t bluffing, joshing, yanking anyone’s chain or pulling anyone’s leg. They were always serious, and on Saturday, they’re making it real. They’re matching the Suns’ offer sheet for Gordon.

From the Times Picayune:

Although Eric Gordon proceeded with his exit plan after expressing his desire to play for the Phoenix Suns, the Hornets are expected to match the Suns’ four-year, $58 million offer sheet today to retain him, sources confirmed.

Gordon signed the Suns’ offer sheet Wednesday and the Hornets had three days to match. By using their entire 72-hour allotted time, they prevented the Suns from pursuing other players in free agency because Phoenix does not have enough salary-cap space to accommodate Gordon and another addition.

via New Orleans Hornets expected to match Phoenix Suns’ offer for Eric Gordon today | NOLA.com.

This is not brain surgery. You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to figure this out. Something else involving a complex and high-level intelligence necessary for a profession. Eric Gordon is a top-five shooting guard in this league (which may say more about the quality of shooting guards in this league, but he’s still very good), and the Hornets traded Chris Paul for him, among other things. The Hornets believe he is the star of their future next to Anthony Davis, and have no intention of letting him walk just because he decided to pout on the front lawn for a few days about not getting to go where he wanted.

His heart may be in Phoenix, but his shoe laces will be in New Orleans. Gordon’s a professional, and in all likelihood there will be no problems, especially after Gordon gets a chance to see how good Anthony Davis is. The Hornets have a good plan in place, and that’s going to lead to wins. And wins convince guys to stay more than anything.

So Gordon gets re-signed, gets his money, the Hornets get their star. If he really wants to make a fuss, then he can, and Demps and Williams might facilitate a trade. But that doesn’t seem like who Eric Gordon is. As it stands, this works out for everyone, despite Gordon’s disappointment.

Also, pretty hilarious that the Hornets intentionally waited to punish the Suns for signing their guy to an offer sheet. Gotta love the chess match.