West Notes: Rockets, Warriors, Draymond Green, Lakers

Rockets

The Rockets may not be in any hurry to trade guard Eric Gordon despite rumors they are exploring ways to do so, per Tim MacMahon of ESPN, via RealGM.

Instead, they could hang on to Gordon as part of a potential reunion with 76ers guard James Harden this summer, MacMahon suggested. Harden has been rumored to have an interest in returning to the franchise in free agency.

That said, there is a widespread belief that Gordon would prefer to move to a playoff contender before the Feb. 9 trade deadline.

“At $19.6 million for this season, Gordon is an easily attainable player via trade for teams looking to add wing scoring and shooting,” RealGM wrote.

• Guard Kevin Porter Jr. has missed four straight games with a foot injury, and per Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle, is still have issues pushing off his big toe. Porter is averaging 19.2 points, 5.6 assists and 5.5 rebounds.

Warriors

Forward Draymond Green said he intends to play in the NBA for less than five more years.

“We have a very finite time to do what we’re doing. I’m 32 years old. If I’m being honest, I don’t want to play basketball until I’m 40,” Green said on the Stephen A. Smith podcast, via HoopsHype. “I really want to play basketball for another four years after this. I’ve always said my magic number is 15. Once I get to 15, that’s it. I’m cool. Go enjoy my life.”

• While the Warriors are looking to make some deals, and are said to have an interest in Celtics guard Payton Pritchard, but it appears they don’t want to move any of their young core to make it happen.
• Instead, they will likely keep forward Jonathan Kuminga, center James Wiseman and guard Moses Moody beyond the trade deadline, per Anthony Slater of The Athletic.

Lakers

Guard Kendrick Nunn is someone rival executives appear to view as a potential Lakers trade chip, per Sean Deveney of Heavy Sports.

“He could help someone,” one executive said, via Deveney. “But they need to show he is healthy. He’s got a very manageable contract ($5.25 million, expiring this summer) and they’re dying for size on that team. They’re not going to trade (LeBron James) or Anthony Davis obviously, so the best package they can put out there is Nunn and (Patrick Beverley) and one of their picks (in 2027 or 2029). Honestly, he is their best trade piece right now.”

• As we relayed here and here, the Lakers reportedly remain in hot pursuit of Knicks forward Cam Reddish. A package involving Nunn may be enough to get it done, though it seems only if the Knicks can move Derrick Rose.