The latest on Ben Gordon, lifted from RealGM:
Gordon's Deadline Draws Near
Bulls GM John Paxson ''anticipates'' that Ben Gordon will be in training camp with the team, but says that the qualifying offer is only on the table until Wednesday, the Chicago Sun-Times is reporting.
The Bulls and Gordon have been unable to agree on a contract, no sign and trades appear imminent, and despite flurting with the idea earlier in the summer Europe no longer appears to be an option for Chicago's leading scorer.
''That's not an option because I would still be a restricted free agent [with the Bulls upon return to the NBA],'' Gordon said. ''Other than that, I'm not ruling anything out.''
''There is some time out there for us, but the reality is we've just been so far apart for so long,'' Paxson said. ''We believe we're closer to what the market is in the league. But anything can happen when there is a deadline and all that. The qualifying offer stands until Wednesday.''
and also:
Paxson Believes Gordon Will Accept Qualifying OfferBulls GM John Paxson believes that the stalemate with Ben Gordon will end with the team's leading scoring accepting the one year qualifying offer, the Daily Herald is reporting.
The move would allow Gordon, who is currently a restricted free agent, to play out 2009-2010 in Chicago and then become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, leaving him free to go wherever he wanted. It also means that he would not be able to be traded this season without his prior consent.
Gordon and the Bulls have been at odds all summer over a new contract, as well as last summer for a contract extension, with Chicago believed to be offering a six year, $59 million contract for the team's sixth man.
"We've been so far apart for two summers, and the qualifying offer is a good one-year deal for Ben," Paxson said. "So yes, I do think that is what will happen."
Despite Gordon's off-year last season, his refusal to budge on dollars and all the attempts to gain some leverage, I would like to see him return and if he does leave town, I wouldn't like to see him walk without the Bulls getting something in return but that's looking more and more likely. It seems like a wedge has been driven between Gordon and the organisation and even if he does accept the qualifying offer, I don't like their chances of keeping him beyond this season. As he'll need to approve any deal they involve him in, moving him before that time may prove to be impossible.
While this whole situation isn't solely the Bulls' fault - Gordon is asking for a lot of money, after all - I still think the situation could have been handled better. A couple of years ago we were all saying "In Pax We Trust" but honestly, the only thing I trust him to do is make another blunder. Trading Crawford and Curry worked out alright but then came the Wallace signing, trading Aldridge for Thomas, the Kobe discussions which caused a distraction (and here they are with another distraction heading into a new season) and alienating one of their key players, in all likelihood losing him at some point down the road with little or nothing coming in return. On top of all that, they bring in someone with no coaching experience ahead of far more experienced candidates.
If this is another season in the basement, then perhaps it's time for Paxson to go. He made some headway but he seems to have bungled it, though I hope I'm wrong and the setbacks of recent years can be left behind as the team regroups. The Wallace signing has definitely become his "Brand for Chandler", here's hoping we're not in for another five or six gloomy years.
