Phoenix Suns guard Eric Gordon is reportedly set to join the Bahamas national team for the Olympic qualifying tournament in Spain, which begins July 2. Athletic Shams Charania.
It should be known by then whether he'll be a Suns player for 2024-25. Gordon, 35, has a player option worth $3.3 million that he must exercise by June 29.
Gordon played in 68 games and made 24 starts last season after signing a veteran-minimum contract with Phoenix.
He averaged 11.0 points and 2.0 assists per game while shooting 38 percent from three-point range.
Gordon may have more opportunities to join a new team as a free agent with Devin Booker, Bradley Beal and recently signed contract extension Grayson Allen in the way, and a rookie who can slot into the rotation could also be drafted before the veteran's player option is decided.
That said, Gordon could very well compete for playing time next year, as Phoenix front-office leader James Jones and new head coach Mike Budenholzer have voiced a desire to rotate shooters to support the big three of Booker, Beal and Kevin Durant.
Bahamas Men's Basketball Team Follows History
The Bahamian is expected to attend training camp with soon-to-be free agent Klay Thompson, but Charania reports that the longtime Golden State Warriors standout has been released by the United States Basketball Association and is unlikely to be approved to compete in the Olympic qualifiers. Thompson's father, Mychal, is from the Bahamas.
Former Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton and Philadelphia 76ers guard Buddy Hield are expected to join Gordon in the qualifying games, Charania said. Former first-round draft pick Kai Jones could also be on the team.
Gordon and Ayton, then a teammate with the Suns, led the Bahamas to a win last summer against some of the best teams from the Americas in a pre-Olympic qualifying tournament.
The Bahamas will begin their Olympic qualifying schedule with matches against Finland (July 2) and Poland (July 3). They are in a six-team pool, one of which will advance to the Olympics. On the other side of the pool are Spain, Angola and Lebanon.
