Hooped Up

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.

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

Ben Gordon hasn’t given up on staying with the Bulls, but he does see the writing on the wall. The Bulls don’t want to pay the luxury tax, and unless that policy changes, they have a finite amount of money to offer Gordon to start a new contract. Add it up over six years, and the restricted free agent would have to accept a smaller average salary (about $9.8 million) than the team offered him last summer. “It looks that way,” he said Friday. “I don’t think they want to lose their leading scorer for nothing. Maybe they do, I don’t know.”

Chicago Daily Herald

Ben Gordon won’t set any artificial deadlines to get a new deal done. A restricted free agent, he could sign a one-year tender offer from the Bullsand then become an unrestricted free agent next summer. Born in England, Gordon doesn’t rule out following Josh Childress’ lead and signing with an overseas club. “Definitely, it’s a possibility with the Euro being so strong. Josh did it. It just depends on what the individual wants or what he can put up with. I’m from London, so it’s definitely something that seems like it would be interesting. But ideally I’d like to be here playing in the States for the team that drafted me.”

Chicago Daily Herald

With Chicago Bull team mates Luol Deng and Ben Gordon, the British basketball squad will be the strongest it has ever been.  Hoping to bolster their hopes of qualifying for the 2012 Olympic Games.

Even though London is hosting the event, the Great Britain team, who did not enter for a place at Beijing in August, are not guaranteed an automatic passage to the Games because they have not qualified for enough leading tournaments since the team reformed in 2005.

Deng, 23, and Gordon, 25, his Chicago Bulls team-mate, will join the squad for the London selection camp in August. Chris Finch, the team’s coach, said: “It is by far the strongest list of names put out in the history of any of the home countries or GB, we’re really fortunate to have such a quality group.” 

The Times