Ben Gordon: Will he stay or will he go now?
The signing of Luol Deng has raised a lot of questions to the future of Ben Gordon. The Chicago Bulls inked Deng last week to a six year deal worth at least $72 million, with Gordon still to be signed. The most the Bulls can offer Gordon, without going over the luxury tax, is around $8 to $9 million a year. Gordon, the leading scorer for the team over the last three seasons, believes he is worth more than that, especially considering Deng’s contract puts him at $12 million a year.
The Chicago Bulls already have an overcrowded back court and building a young team around a point guard doesn’t bode well for a crowded back court. Gordon would like to stay with the Bulls, but someone is going to have to be moved. The most the Bulls can offer Gordon without being taxed is six years at roughly $58 million. Is this all Gordon is truly worth though?
There is no question that Ben Gordon can score. He has lead the Bulls in scoring for three consecutive seasons. As Bethlehem Shoals of “The Sporting Blog” put it though “he’s (Gordon) always been most effective off the bench. And no matter what he works on over the summer, he remains a man without a position or the dynamism necessary to overcome it. He’s an undersized Michael Redd, or Arenas sans ability to control the ball.”
Ben Gordon has two options he can pursue here. Gordon is a restricted free agent, and can only go elsewhere if someone offers him a contract and the Bull option not to match the offer. If the Bulls and Gordon do not reach a deal by the end of the free agency period he must sign a one-year tenure contract that will keep him with the team through next season, when he will then become an unrestricted free agent (UFA) next offseason. If this is what things come down to, look for his playing time to drop. The Bulls have a young team with great potential that needs to play to become better and more mature. Knowing that Gordon would not be returning after becoming an UFA, the Bulls should look to use the players that will be here for some time to gain experience.
Another option of Gordon’s could be to look Europe. He is part-British and has citizenship in England. This summer four international players who had previously played in the NBA returned to teams in Europe, Atlanta Hawks free agent Josh Childress and New Jerseys Nets free agent Bostjan Nachbar have signed three year contracts with European teams and another team is close to signing Cleveland Cavs guard Delonte West to a two year deal. So the option is there, and Gordon could easily become the highest paid player in Europe if he chooses to.
Vinny translates to Rose?
The Chicago Bulls decided last week to make their head coach a first time coach. Vinny Del Negro was given the head coaching spot my general manager John Paxson. Since Negro retired from his playing days in 2002 he has held positions in the front office with the Pheonix Suns under Paxson’s good friend Steve Kerr.
Negro played for several teams during his 14 year NBA career. Negro was drafted by the Kings in 1988 and retired as a Sun in 2002. He also spent two years from 1990-92 playing in Europe. Negro was a point gaurd/shooting gaurd during is playing career.
The hiring of Negro offers a few questions and maybe a glimpse into the future on what the Bulls off-season still has to come. (more…)
Second thoughts on Collins?
John Paxson and the Chicago Bulls appear to be having second thoughts on hiring Doug Collins. Collins was said to be the favorite for the job over a week ago, but a contract has yet to be signed. After the firing of Pistons head coach Flip Saunders the Bulls may attempt to bring him in for an interview. Flip coached the Pistons to a winning percentage over .75 in the regular season for three years.
The Bulls are also still considering Kings assistant Chuck Person. Person was brought in for a second interview earlier this week and looks to be the favorite if the Bulls pass on Collins.
Lets hope they give Flip a look.
Scenarios if Bulls draft Michael Beasley
As we discussed in the article about the possible moves if the Bulls decided to draft Derrick Rose, the same applies if they decide to go with Michael Beasley. Whomever the Bulls decide to draft, there is likely to be some moves made. Beasley is said by some scouts to be an ‘elbow man.’ These players typically start at the corner of the foul line, and either step back and take a shot or drive the lane. Dirk Nowitzki is the NBA’s best ‘elbow man’ and Carlos Boozer and David West are two other greats. The Bulls already have several forwards. If the Bulls do go with Beasley, there are some moves that could be made. (more…)
Scenarios if the Bulls draft Derrick Rose
The Chicago Bulls most likely going to receive plenty of phone calls from other teams regarding the number one pick, as well as some of their guards if they decide to go with Derrick Rose. If Rose is the right choice for the number one pick, and the Bulls decide they need to trade away some other guards here are a few things that may happen:
- Full House: The Bulls will have a plethora of gaurds and will want to move someone. After getting Larry Hughes in a trade with Cleveland in February, sharing minutes between Krik Hinrich, Ben Gordon, Hughes, and Tabo Sefolosha didn’t work well for either player. Sefolosha’s potential will make him an unlikely trade option, and Gordon’s jumper being the best of the team will make it hard to part ways with him. Hinrich and Hughes are left with huge contracts, which could make them are to deal though. Hinrich is owed $36.5 million over four years and Hughes is due $26.5 million over two years. Chris Duhon is an unrestricted free-agent and is unlikely to return.
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