Bobcats release shooting guard Ben Gordon

Ben Gordon (right) averaged 5.2 points and 1.4 rebounds for Charlotte this season. (Ron Hoskins/Getty Images)

The Bobcats announced Sunday the release of shooting guard Ben Gordon.

“With the recent acquisition of additional backcourt depth to our roster, we believe this is in the best interests of both parties,” Bobcats president Rod Higgins said in a statement. “We want to thank Ben for his contributions over the past two seasons and wish him the best as he moves on in his career.”

The roster move comes after the NBA's playoff-eligibility deadline, which was Saturday, meaning that Gordon will not be able to participate in the 2014 playoffs if and when he signs with another team.

Gordon, 30, averaged a career-low 5.2 points and 1.4 rebounds in 14.7 minutes over 19 appearances this season. The 10-year veteran never established himself as a consistent presence in first-year coach Steve Clifford's rotation, and Charlotte swung a trade deadline deal for gurads Gary Neal and Luke Ridnour, which further marginalized Gordon.

The Bobcats originally acquired Gordon from the Pistons in a 2012 trade for Corey Maggette. By agreeing to take on Gordon's salary, which was $13.2 million this season, Charlotte also received a first-round pick from Detroit. That pick, which is top-eight protected in 2014 and top-one protected in 2015, may transfer to the Bobcats this season, as the Pistons currently are tied for the ninth-worst record in the NBA.