Hooped Up

The news for the Chicago Bulls isn’t good after Kirk Hinrich left the game against the Suns with a hand injury Friday; just 16 minutes into the contest. On Saturday test  revealed that Hinrich will miss three months with a torn ligament in his right thumb or if your fancy a torn ulnar collateral ligament. 

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Hinrich will undergo surgery on his thumb Tuesday at Rush University Medical Center. Get ready for a steady dose of a Rose / Gordon in the backcourt.

The Bulls are reportedly interested in acquiring Zach Randolph to answer the problems associated with their low-post offense.  

However, Yahoo! Sports reports that the Chicago Bulls do not have a package at the present time that would interest the New York Knicks to make a deal. Acquiring Randolph, who is a proven doube-double power forward would address the Chicago Bulls need for an inside scoring presence; which they currently lack.  

Maybe the Bulls should offer sanity and spending discretion for Zach Randolph, the Knicks haven’t had that in ages!

Like I was saying yesterday, what’s up with all the injuries? The preseason has turned into Thunderdome.

“The Bulls said Larry Hughes suffered a dislocated right shoulder after colliding with Timberwolves swingman Mike Miller late in the third quarter of Wednesday’s game.

Hughes, who had started and scored 21 points to that point, crumpled to the ground after chasing a loose ball and stayed down for several minutes. Athletic trainer Fred Tedeschi sprinted to attend to Hughes, who walked off the floor along with Tedeschi and the Timberwolves’ trainer in obvious pain.

A team spokesperson said Hughes’ shoulder had been popped back in place. The team wouldn’t speculate on the length of Hughes’ absence.”

Chicago Tribune

Facing a 10:59 p.m. deadline Wednesday on whether to accept the one-year qualifying offer, Bulls guard Ben Gordon played it like an NBA general manager on draft night, letting the clock wind down to zero while all options were explored.

The Bulls finally made the official announcement late in the evening that Gordon would take the qualifying offer worth $6.4 million and become an unrestricted free agent next summer. In the meantime, he cannot be traded without his consent.

The Bulls offered a six-year deal worth about $59 million and were reluctant to go any higher because they would be faced with paying the luxury tax if their payroll grows beyond $71.1 million.

Daily Herald

For the last two seasons, Ben Gordon has turned down a lot of money hoping to earning more with no success.  Now it looks like he will except a one-year deal with the Bulls, attend training camp and try again next summer.

“There had been speculation that Gordon might not show up Monday for media day or for the first of five days of double practice sessions beginning Tuesday because of dissatisfaction over his negotiations. But Gordon, a restricted free agent, told confidants that rocking the boat wasn’t his style and he had to remain professional.

Along those lines, Gordon is expected to sign the one-year tender offer of $6.4 million by Wednesday’s deadline and become an unrestricted free agent next summer. No serious sign-and-trade options have developed.”

Chicago Tribune

The stakes just got a little higher for the Chicago Bulls if they want to keep Ben Gordon.  

“It’s possible Gordon would prefer joining a European team over signing the one-year qualifying offer from the Bulls worth $6.4 million. One site pegged CSKA’s offer at $5.5 million. Either way, Gordon would become an unrestricted free agent next summer, when several NBA clubs are expected to have salary-cap room.”

Arlington Heights Daily Herald

Even if Gordon goes to Russia or anywhere else overseas, it’s not the NBA that is in trouble.  The NBDL on the other hand could fold up like a tent with this kinda overseas money being thrown at players eventually.

This English squad could become a sleeper pick in the 2012 London Olympics with Luol Deng on board.

” GB take on Israel on Wednesday in Tel Aviv, with NBA star Luol Deng in the team for the first time this summer.

“Whenever you have a guy like that added to the team it gives you a chance to win every game,” said Mensah-Bonsu, who was GB’s top scorer in Turkey. ”

BBC

While receiving an honorary degree from his alma matter. Phil Jackson had this to say regarding the best athlete he has ever coached when asked as reported by the OC Register.

“No, the player Jackson called the greatest that he has coached is that wedding dress aficionado and Newport Beach police’s favorite basketball bad boy, Dennis Rodman. That’s right. No need to rub your eyes.

“He could probably play a 48-minute game and play the 48th minute stronger than the first minute of the game,” Jackson told the crowd at UND. “He was that terrific an athlete.”

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The Bulls have more guards then a rec league and Gordon is now the neglected middle child between Deng and Rose.  Is it time for a change in scenery?

Ben Gordon believes he and the Bulls are about to part ways. But unless the Bulls have a trade in the making, it’s unlikely he’ll be able to leave because Gordon can’t force a move as a restricted free agent. “Right now, honestly, it doesn’t look like it,” Gordon told the Hartford Courant about returning to the Bulls for a fifth season.

Chicago Sun Times