The Milwaukee Bucks are seeking to upgrade their bench. The challenge for Milwaukee is that they owe three future first-round picks to other teams from previous trades.

In 2019, the Bucks sent four second-round picks to the New Orleans Pelicans for Nikola Mirotic. Milwaukee is trying a similar tactic now, as they've offered four second-round picks to the Houston Rockets for Eric Gordon. The Bucks have eight second-round picks to offer in trades over the next seven years.

Gordon has averaged 12.2 points over 39 games for the Rockets this season. Houston has been expected to explore the trade market for the veteran guard ahead of the trade deadline. Gordon has one more season left on his contract after this season, but the $20.9 million deal is non-guaranteed unless Gordon's team wins the 2023 NBA Finals.

Eric Gordon has seemingly been on the trade market since the Houston Rockets traded away James Harden to kick off a rebuild. With Gordon's deal nearing its end, the expectation has been the Rockets would look to trade him by next month's trade deadline.

However, sources indicate that Houston isn't in any rush to trade Gordon. One reason is the Rockets rumored pursuit of a reunion with Harden in free agency this summer. Harden enjoys playing with Gordon, and the Rockets may see that as a potential recruitment advantage.

Gordon's $20.9 million contract for next season is fully non-guaranteed, unless the team he is on wins the 2023 NBA Finals. At $19.6 million for this season, Gordon is an easily attainable player via trade for teams looking to add wing scoring and shooting.

The NBA announced punishments from the Houston Rockets and Sacramento Kings on-court altercation on Friday night in Sacramento.

In the fourth quarter of the Kings victory, Garrison Mathews of the Rockets and Malik Monk of the Kings got tangled up while pursuing a loose ball. As things escalated, Mathews, Monk and Tari Eason of the Rockets were ejected from the game.

Jalen Green and Jae'Sean Tate of the Rockets left the bench area during the altercation. They have both been suspended for one game for those actions.

Matthews was fined $35,000 for initiating the altercation and taunting Monk. Monk was fined $25,000 for continuing the altercation and taunting Mathews. Eason was fined $30,000 for escalating the altercation and making inadvertent contact with a game official.

Green and Tate will both serve their suspensions during Sunday's game at the LA Clippers.

KJ Martin has committed to the Slam Dunk Contest at All-Star Weekend, sources told Shams Charania of The Athletic.

Martin joins Shaedon Sharpe in the competition. 

All-Star Weekend runs from February 17-19 in Salt Lake City.

The Houston Rockets are reportedly looking for an unprotected first-round pick in exchange for Eric Gordon, league sources told Marc Stein of Substack.

Stein adds that the Rockets are looking for Gordon to fetch a return similar to Bojan Bogdanovic of the Pistons.

The 34-year-old Gordon is averaging 11.5 points in 29.7 minutes this season.

Houston Rockets guard Eric Gordon is by far his team's longest-tenured player. As such, the veteran is somewhat regularly asked about where his young team stands. After the Rockets were blown out at home on New Year's Eve, Gordon offered a harsh assessment.

"There's no improvement," Gordon said when asked what improvment he's seen from Houston since the beginning of the season.

Gordon went on to explain that the Rockets continue to struggle with turnovers, as they have all season long. Part of them comes from the team not always playing together as a group.

“Same old thing all year. We have a small margin for error," Gordon said. "It’s a lot of things. It’s mindset. You got to play for one another. Do what’s right by your teammates. If you do that, it’d be more fun. You give yourself a better chance to win”