Looking to unload troublesome and expensive guard Ben Gordon, the Charlotte Bobcats are hoping to find a suitor in the Toronto Raptors, ESPN.com’s Marc Stein is reporting.
According to Stein, Charlotte is “a suitor” for Raptors forward Andrea Bargnani, the team’s former No. 1 draft pick who it has been open to unloading.
However, the Bobcats appear to be more interested in such a deal than the Raptors, who already have a number of talented wing scorers.
But financially, the trade could have similar appeal to the rumored Bargnani-for-Carlos Boozer swap, as Gordon’s contract expires a year before Bargnani’s. Gordon’s $12-plus-million and Bargnani’s $10-million salaries could be swapped one-for-one.
All-Star Weekend trade rumble: Charlotte's growing determination to move Ben Gordon has presented Toronto w/another Andrea Bargnani suitor—
Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) February 16, 2013
Sense I get, though, is that Toronto ain't gonna bite on Bargs-for-Gordon deal. Raps have Terrence Ross & Alan Anderson playing well there—
Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) February 16, 2013
Gordon easier to take back $-wise than Boozer w/one less year on deal, but Raps unlikely to just trade ex-No. 1 overall pick for sake of it—
Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) February 16, 2013
Gordon, 29, is averaging 12.6 points on 42.8-percent shooting this season compared to career averages of 16.2 and 43.5.
The 27-year-old Bargnani’s 14.8 points and 3.8 rebounds per game are his lowest numbers since his second year in the league. The 7-foot Italian has struggled with injuries in recent years, playing just 31 games last season and 25 thus far this season.
