Take the money, Ben
Three guys show up for their job orientation and who knows what they did, though it seemed to involve drugs and sex. Another guy makes a video apparently demeaning his country and finding enough vile words for an HBO special.
I know I’m excited.
It means our favorite guys are back.
Yes, it’s just about time for the NBA season.
Of course this is an overstatement. But that’s the inescapable burden of the NBA. I’ve been around this league for almost 30 years and believe its people are better than in any sport. No, golf isn’t a sport.
But part of the fun of loving the NBA is our guys do some goofy stuff.
I’m hereafter nominating those goofs for my Reggie Harding memorial award.
My preseason nominations are the Kansas Three, rookies Mario Chalmers and Darrell Arthur from Kansas and Michael Beasley from Kansas State. No, kids, you aren’t in Kansas anymore. And you shouldn’t have brought Dorothy to rookie orientation. Or her sister.
Then there’s Josh Howard, who slammed the national anthem this summer on a video (don’t these guys ever learn, Melo?) as the topping for his drug use admissions last season and excess partying in playoff defeat.
I’m told all Dallas Mavericks players this season when standing next to Howard will have to wear those “I’m with stupid” t-shirts that Kenny’s mom wears in South Park episodes.
And then there’s Ben Gordon, who really is a very good and decent guy, who seems to have turned down enough money to bail out Wall Street while working through an aimless free agency.
Oh yeah, Reggie.
Reg was a troubled young man who was one of the first to be drafted by the NBA without attending college. He was a seven footer from Detroit. He played four decent NBA seasons (twice even averaging a double/double through trouble shortened seasons) and one double/double season in the ABA, and was shot dead on a Detroit street corner in 1972 at age 30.
Reg wasn’t the brightest guy and so the story goes once, wearing a mask, he decided to rob a store in his neighborhood. The owner recognized Reg as there weren’t a lot of seven foot holdup men around.
“Reg,” the man said, “don’t do it.”
Replied Harding: “It ain’t me, man.”
You’d think Ron Artest retired this trophy, but Josh is working hard to wrestle it away.
As for my man, Ben, I weep for him.
Eventually, Gordon will be a rich young man. You’d say he probably is now since he’ll likely sign a one-year qualifying offer for about $6.4 million this season and thereafter become an unrestricted free agent.
And then what?
That’s the rub, and I understand Gordon’s position, much stated to the Bulls.
Ben: “I’m the leading scorer on the team for the last three years. I should be highest paid.”
Bulls: “We like you and believe you are valuable and would like you to remain with the Bulls. But you turned down $10 million a year for five years last year and you and the team had a bad season. So we’ll offer you maybe $9 million or so for six years, again more than $50 million. But you really are a classic sixth man, a great scorer with limited ballhanding and passing skills and you’re, what, six foot tall? We haven’t gotten any trade offers for you (OK, Miami said they were thinking briefly about Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks, but who wants Banks’ contract and Marion’s pout?). Go get an offer somewhere and we’ll make a deal. And, who, after all, is going to give you $10 million or more of saved cap room next summer when everyone is waiting for 2010 and LeBron, Wade and Bosh?”
And so Gordon sits with the rest of us suckers watching our money disappear.
Hey, I should have sold my house last year. But I didn’t. Now I can’t.
It’s timing. It’s life.
Sorry, Ben, the market for six foot shooting guards, no matter how good a guy you are and hard you work, isn’t there.
Take the $9 million or $9.5 million (estimate) and be a very, very, very, very rich man.
OK, not as rich as some of your friends.
But, hey, the guys at Lehman Brothers thought they were rich last week.
I understand well how this works.
It’s about respect, right?
No, it’s about competition.
You don’t become a pro athlete unless you compete at everything. They compete in conversation. So when all us old timers who are trying to find the airline without baggage fees say you are rich whether you make $8 million or $12 million and never can spend it all, anyway, we don’t get it.
It’s the same in your office. A salary of $75,000 might sound great until you find out the sinkhole at the next desk makes $85,000. Then it’s misery.
Especially with athletes.
It really isn’t about the money. Sort of. No one really realizes how good they are until you try to play against them. What gets you to that level is the desire (and we’d love to see it more often when they are there) to compete all the time.
Gordon’s like that. And he’s a worker.
I hate this being him because he is a dedicated guy. I’ve traveled with the Chicago Bulls on and off the last few years and just about every city the Bulls land in Gordon gets off the plane and heads directly to a gym to shoot. There are few guys in the NBA who practice as much, certainly not on their shooting. Every summer, Bulls coaches rave about all the work Gordon has put in.
And then it turns out he’s still six feet tall.
No one on that Bulls team gets as much defensive attention, so it didn’t go so well with Ben Wallace averaging $15 million. Geez, and the guy can’t make a layup.
Gordon asked for $15 million last season and didn’t budge. The Bulls offered $10 million and didn’t budge.
Next!
So this summer Luol Deng signed after he rejected a deal last year close to $60 million for five years. It was announced this time at more than $70 million. But with, according to league sources, perhaps $20 million deferred in the first five seasons, the present value of the contract is believed to be slightly less than Deng was offered last season. The Bulls are believed to have made a similar proportional offer to Gordon, like Deng, slightly less than Gordon could have made last year. But seemingly a lot of money.
Gordon averaged more points than Deng as well and now Larry Hughes is there making about $13 million a season and he’s no Ben Gordon. Where’s the loyalty?
So Gordon remains unsigned.
It seems clear the Bulls will not trade him, and though Gordon this summer talked of having played his last game for the Bulls and never playing for the qualifying offer, he has nowhere else to go.
Were he even to get an overseas offer, he’d still be a Bulls free agent when he returned as you cannot by rule play out your free agency somewhere else. Plus, the European offers have been even less than the qualifying offer and much less than Gordon keeps rejecting here.
So he’ll come in and disrupt the team by, what, shooting all the time?
Duh.
It’s what he does.
Gordon’s not going to hurt the team, and the Bulls know it.
First, he’s not a bad guy, and he would become unrestricted if he signs the one year offer. Not a great time to lay down.
Plus, he always comes in shooting anyway. What’s he going to do to undermine the team? Pass?
So the Bulls will panic because they can’t afford to lose him in free agency and get nothing in return? Right? Hardly.
Admittedly, it’s not a great free agent class next summer, though Carlos Boozer and Hedo Turkoglu could be there. The teams most likely to be $10 million or more under the cap to sign someone unrestricted likely figure to be from among Memphis (not spending money), Oklahoma City (probably not with the big relocation fee due), Portland (got guards), Miami (going for Boozer, we hear), Indiana and maybe Minnesota. So if you are spending, you lock in Ben Gordon and pass on a chance for Wade or Bosh? LeBron is going to New York or New Jersey, as we know.
No. If Gordon wants to go anywhere and get paid he probably would have to come back to the Bulls anyway for a sign-and-trade. Which is why the Bulls don’t seem in any hurry to make a deal.
And with a signed Deng and No. 1 pick Derrick Rose, they need Gordon. Who else is going to score? Gordon has a chance to have a terrific season, and perhaps the team improves as a result.
The Bulls have made it clear they aren’t going to make a bad deal to accommodate Gordon, and they aren’t about to panic. Most Americans’ portfolios don’t look like they did two weeks ago, and so the timing isn’t great for Gordon, either.
But Gordon still has a chance to be guaranteed some $50 million or more. Hey, it would be more than Josh Howard got.
I know, I know. Bad example.
My guess: Gordon ends up re-signing with the Bulls at some point.
Dan Said,
September 19, 2008 @ 8:30 am
Mr Smith - you know as well as anyone the NBA teams need to be careful about overpaying these guys.It doesnt matter if someones a decent guy or works hard.You said it yourself,Ben Gordon isn’t that good.Its not all about points per game…Gordon can shoot (sometimes…he has a far too many bad shooting games doesn’t he?) but not much else.You dont get that kind of money as a guard unless you are really really effective and/or exude star quality and Ben Gordon is/does neither.
The Bulls have shown they can’t get anything done and are a hopeless organisation in every sense but Ben Gordon scores alot and thinks he’s Michael Jordan.He’s not, he’s just a guy who can shoot and not do much else.He’s certainly not worth as much as Deng (despite leading the team in scoring shock horror) and I’d take Josh Howard over Gordon any day of the week.
Get over yourself Ben
Prince Said,
September 19, 2008 @ 8:31 am
great article sir
i dont know what is it with ben gordon, he just very very stubborn, 6/59mil is already a lot, he is blind and on crack if he wants deng money, sure ben can score, but no ball handling, passing, liability on defense, only scores on streaks, in short he is one dimensional. I also believe he may be overpaid at 6/59, no offense, if i was in ben’s position, just take the damn money
again, great article
Drill Phil Said,
September 19, 2008 @ 8:43 am
Sam…. Very good write up about Ben..I use to work Ben out way back in high school the kid loves to shoot and compete but one thing I want to say about BEN is on fridays when most high school kids are out partying Ben and I would be in the gym working on his jump shot………….this guy is for real I have never seen a youg man work on his craft the way he does…. the only player that may come close is Luis Flores from manhattan collage but he ended up playing over seas he is another six foot shooting guard but any way Ben is a quite person..he stays to him self.
DP
Dionysus Said,
September 19, 2008 @ 8:58 am
Good write up, Sam. In fairness, I don’t believe Ben Gordon has ever been quoted saying “I’m the leading scorer on the team for the last three years. I should be highest paid.”…rather that comment is a creation of the media from an interview during last summer’s contract negotiation…here is a link to the original quote.
http://www.fanhouse.com/2007/10/30/ben-gordon-wants-best-player-money/
Anyhow, we both agree that Ben Gordon is a good guy and likely will not hurt the Bulls, so I expect him to sign by the opening of camp on the 30th.
JY Said,
September 19, 2008 @ 9:00 am
Mr. Smith,
The only people who deny that golf is a sport are: a. those who have never played; b. fat a**sses who cant walk 5 miles without collapsing in a heap, and therefore have to ride in a cart.
You Sir, are a boar. Try playing the game and then tell me its not a sport. I’d love to be there laughing as your handeye coordination- vital to any “sport” - fails you and you flail around like a immobilized ape.
You sir, disgust me.
P Lewis James Said,
September 19, 2008 @ 9:35 am
First of all , Ben Gordon is a decent guy. That being said he is not worth 10 million dollars. Somewhere along the way he took a wrong turn and became a shooting guard in a point guards body.If he wants to increase his value he should work on his ballhandling, and passing skills,as much as he works on shooting. Become a point guard who can hit a open shot. Why no one told him this coming out of Connecticut is a mystery to me. I believe that Ben’s career now will be similar to that of Steve Kerr. Gordon should reel in his ego and be realistic in his assessment of himself as a player. Whatever money he makes it is going to be a lot more than those of us who work real jobs!
vincent Herring Said,
September 19, 2008 @ 9:37 am
uh I bet Sprewell would take…… Just about anything. Don’t be Sprewell
Mark Said,
September 19, 2008 @ 9:41 am
Sam,
We miss you here in Chicago at the Tribune my man! You were on my podcast (The Chicago Bullseye) with Fred Pfeiffer a few months back to talk about the Jordan Rules. I compeltely agree with you 100% (Fred for the record thinks we are both nuts and that BG will get a $12 million dollar offer next season if he signs the QO…hes nuts…like you said, there will be better Free Agents and the teams that wanna spend will get those guys or will save for 2010).
As a devoted Bulls fan, I love Ben Gordon. The guy works hard. He plays hard, and without a doubt he is the best offensive weapon on our team. I think he can be even better this season with a guy in the backcourt who if he works on his jumper a wee bit, can take alot of pressure of BG in the backcourt. As much as I think Gordon means to the Bulls, the offer he is getting is very fair and I believe he will end up taking it. No other team in the leauge offered BG a contract. If he signs a qualifying offer with the Bulls, he risks 1) the team sucking again 2) not averaging 35 minutes a night because we have 3,000 guards and we are not about to trade any of them if Gordon isint locked up! 3) His stats dropping more than they did last year 4) Being in a similar position next offseason where no teams are interested he gets even less than roughly 6 yrs, $60 mil. There is too much risk for BG not to sign this deal. I think he will ultimatly sign it and all will soon be forgotten. Once he signs Pax can free up that backcourt a little bit.
On a side note, I would just like to say I am SO EXCITED to see Tyrus Thomas this year! I have read nothing but great things about his offseason and think a guy like Rose will only help him, especially where he can really excel…in transition.
I don’t understand all the writers hating on the Bulls. I think with a little luck and some solid coaching we can win 45-50 games! GO BULLS!
Billy Said,
September 19, 2008 @ 9:48 am
Sam-
First off, great article! You can’t imagine how much I miss your columns in the Sun-Times. Every Thursday the only thing I looked forward to at work was reading your Q & A columns. They were the best, and no offense to Chuck Swirsky and his Q & A but it doesn’t even compare to your columns, mainly because his answers are always covered in corporate goo.. But I guess he doesn’t have a choice since he is working for the Bulls.
As for Ben Gordon, I love him when he’s on and he’s brought me a lot of joy.. mainly during his rookie campaign when he would just go off during the end of games and single handedly win games for the Bulls, especially against the Knicks! Boy, those were GREAT! But as for now, I think that 6/59 mil is MORE than generous. We’ve already overpaid Big Ben (turned into Larry Hughes contract), Kirk, Noc, and Lu.. We’re gonna need some money for the future too. Ben should just take this deal and laugh all the way to the bank. Does he realize he’d be the highest paid 6th man in the league? Can you believe that.. he’d be making more money than Manu!
stuart scudder Said,
September 19, 2008 @ 9:50 am
Good thoughts. Miss you in the Trib. Drew Gooden, the starting PF, seems to be the forgotten man. Why is his contract for ‘09 not a concern? Should Bulls leave cap room for him?
bullshitt Said,
September 19, 2008 @ 9:55 am
Ben has done well during his time with the organisation. Therefore, he deserves a fair deal which I strongly feel he is getting. I really don’t know who is advising Mr. Gordon because there are few clubs if any that would offer him what the Bulls are offering now. In addition to that the pending free agents for the next two years are going to deminish his perceived value( Kobe, AI, Lebron et al).
Wake up Ben!!! fire your agent!!!
You might just have to settle for the biannual deal… 6yrs at about 6-7mil….Call Sprewell if you need advise
Jerome Said,
September 19, 2008 @ 10:14 am
Marion would be a good addition he plays hard every game and does what no other 6″7 guy can do in this league. No for the pouting Ive never seen that, I think it’s more of his agent that does that than Marion. But why would Marion complain he’s getting 18m this year. So, we can say what we want he’s getting paid well.
BBROWN Said,
September 19, 2008 @ 10:28 am
WHAT HAS PAXSON DONE ALL SUMMER? NOTHING!!! GORDAN CAN BE STOPPED WHEN A BIG GUARD IS ON HIM. HE DOES NOT DESERVE MORE MONEY THAN MAGGETTE GOT BE FOR REAL!!!
PAXSON HAS DONE NOTHING!!! WHO DID HIS HOMEWORK WHEN HE WAS AT NOTRE DAME?
HIRE GARY PAYTON TO MOLD DERRICK ROSE!!! NOW YOU IDIOT!!
BBROWN Said,
September 19, 2008 @ 10:32 am
PAX HAS TO GO! THE WORST FALLOUT FROM 49 WINS TO 30. NO IMPROVEMENTS ON THE ROSTER! (YES WE WON THE LOTTERY) BESIDES PAYING BIG BEN 50 MILLION, WAIVING JR SMITH AND TIM THOMAS, 5 TOP TEN DRAFT PICKS AND NO ALL STAR! COME ON HE HAS HAD 5 YEARS. IF HE CONTINUES TO MAKE BAD DEALS THE BULLS COULD BE GONE LIKE LEHMAN BROTHERS!! THATS A LOT OF MONEY IN MISTAKES. PAX HAD NO EXPIERENCE COMING IN, WHAT A JOKE!
Jax Said,
September 19, 2008 @ 10:38 am
i don’t think that being six feet tall is a problem - if you play like Iverson! sorry Ben!
A.J Troeger Jr. Said,
September 19, 2008 @ 10:54 am
Great article Sam and right on the money. BG will not any of those big time deals he craves, not this year or next year. I continue to say this that BG’s best chance for a future big payday is taking a 2 year deal and join the bigtime FAs in 2010. His next best option is the QO. It would be stupid for BG to take the 6/59. Why wait 5 years to get to 11 Mill when you are worth that now?
David Said,
September 19, 2008 @ 10:57 am
I maybe the only one and the first one to say this, but does Larry Hughes deserve $13 mill a year, does Ben Wallace a guy who can’t hit a layup or a freethrow deserve 50 mill over 5 years. True Ben Gordon maybe only 6 ft and a streaky shooter, but his slashing ability and energy that comes off the bench are unmatched by any one in the league. He is a hard worker, and stays out of trouble, and if tackled the proper way he is a very marketable player. I think that in a league where athletes don’t know how to act with money, integrity and hard work are things that should be rewarded. He was drafted by Chicago, and has been loyal to Chicago from the beginning and he deserves what it is he asks for. If you are going to pay a guy 13 mill who hasn’t done anything worthy in maybe his whole career and a guy 50 mill who can’t make a layup, how is it that you can’t give a possible starter and perenial allstar (IF PUT ON ANY OTHER TEAM) 13-15 MILL its not illogical just deserved.
James Said,
September 19, 2008 @ 11:11 am
Sam,
Gordon isn’t a bad guy your right. And he does work hard yes. But at 6 ft tall with no point guard skills and us drafting the number one pick a Point Guard. I don’t see a Gordon/Rose backcourt. Gordon wants to be a main player, A starter and get paid like one as well. It took the 76ers a long time to see that alot of points from a very short shooting guard doesn’t win championships. The best move for the Bulls is to trade Gordon to a contender that needs a sixth man, and get a piece they need or future selections to build around Rose.
kilianvaughn Said,
September 19, 2008 @ 12:08 pm
I’m still waiting to hear the argument that Gordon @ $11 million compared to Gordon at $9 million precludes the team from getting bigger, better free agents in the future. Gordon @ $11 million compared to not having, surely is a big deal. But if that extra $2 million makes the difference, in the end, between signing Bosh or Wade or whomever, then the Bulls might be the worst run franchise in all of sports.
Maybe they have offered Gordon that, and he’s turned it down, but we’ve heard nothing like that. If the Bulls have figured that their future cap situation (flexibility) is okay w/ Gordon at $9 million, then it is at $11 as well. Give him $11 per, w/ one less year. There, saved yourself $4 million.
Oh, and Gordon is 6′ 2 1/4″. Unless your guys’ eyes have better tape measures in them than the professionals who measure them in pre-draft camps. You know, the guys who are investing their jobs and millions of dollars in these measurements. Undermines your credibility to lie about something so easily verifiable.
http://www.draftexpress.com/nba-pre-draft-measurements/measurements.php?year=2004&sort2=DESC&draft=0&pos=0&sort=1
Rashard Lewis Said,
September 19, 2008 @ 1:09 pm
Streaky shooter? Poor ballhandling & passing skills? Sounds familiar.
I was the 3rd leading scorer on my team, sure I’m a bit older and more established. I’ve been to just one All-Star game in 10 years.
For this, I will make $17.2 million this season capping out at $24 mill. in 2012/13.
Ben, you need a new agent! My guy is Tony Dutt and he is a genius!
Darius Fonsworth Said,
September 19, 2008 @ 1:22 pm
Ben Gordon is a 9 million a year player in my opinion. I feel they should give him a contract ala Kirk Hinrich. A long term deal that gets cheaper as time goes by. They could stack the majority of the cash at the beginning just like the Hinrich deal, and make it average out to 8-9 million over a whatever period they decide on. Also with Derrick Rose there, I feel Ben is more necessary at this point than Hinrich since Ben can spread the floor for Rose. Hinrich can play defense, make plays for people(occasionally) but he can’t shoot to save his life.
JY, GOLF IS NOT A SPORT BUT A CELEBRATED HOBBY. Sports have athletes, and no one in golf is that supremely athletic. All I have to say is Phil Mickelson, the guy has breasts and a belly. I doubt that the majority of Golfers can run a 6 minute mile. The only ones who may call themselves athletes are Tiger Woods, and K.J. Choi.
Brian Said,
September 19, 2008 @ 1:36 pm
I keep reading that Gordon is not worth the money he is asking for and also not worth the 6/$59m that is presumibly on the table. Do you guys honestly think that Loul Deng is worth up to $80m (including incentives) for a guy who has averaged 15 points and 6 rebounds per game? Although I think Deng is a good player he is not an AllStar caliber player. The simple fact is the Bulls management screwed up with Deng and Gordon. Management should have offered Deng and Gordon the same money so as not to upset either of the two. I would say if the Bulls had offered both of them around $65 million there would be no problem. Put yourself in Gordon’s shoes if you lead your team in scoring and were pulled in and out of the starting lineup like he was and never given the chance to even play the point (he could be like Gilbert Arenas in my opinion) wouldn’t you be upset? Also, in my opinion, Gordon is more valuable than Deng because he has the capability to put up 25 points a night. How many games has Gordon won single handedly in his carreer so far compared to Deng. Also, what motivation, besides the pay (I realize $59m is a lot of money or the qualifying offer) does Gordon have knowing the Bulls can choose not to play him if they want to devalue his future earnings potential. Again, the simple fact is the Bulls screwed up with the signing of Wallace and Deng and the trading of Wallave for Gooden and Hughes. To me the person who gets screwed from the signing and trading errors is Gordon. By the way I have had NBA League Pass for the past 3 years and have seen every Bulls game and Gordon is not that bad a defender and passer. When he makes passes sometime the players on his team either can’t finish or can’t catch the Ball. Mark my words, this year after the Bulls signed Deng to that big time contract they will run the offense around him and let him shoot the ball 16-22 times a game so that he can become a 20-24 pt scorer and a possible Allstar. Ben’s career numbers are around 18 pts, 3 assts, and 3 rebs per game in about 29 minutes per game compared to Gilbert Arenas’ 22pts, 5.5 assts, and 4.2 rebs per game in about 37 minutes per game. Can you guys honestly tell me that Gordon can not come close to those averages if he gets the additional 7-8 minutes a game that Arenas gets? Don’t forget, Arenas just signed a 6 yrs/$111m deal. Also, Arenas and Gordon roughly have the same shooting percentage and both play about same amount of defenese. Again, for all of those bloggers thinking Gordon is crazy try to put yourself in his shoes. I bet you would feel that same animosity towards the Bulls as Gordon currently does. If say you wouldn’t then you would be fooling yourself.
Zach Said,
September 19, 2008 @ 2:40 pm
Sam,
It’s great to have you writing about Bulls basketball again! There’s a huge hole in Chicago sports media that has yet to be filled since you left.
Anyways, I’m actually scared that Ben will sign the QO, and then thrive off of Derrick Rose’s presence to the point where he DOES create a market for himself next off-season. Playing next to a guard who can actually penetrate at will (sorry Kirk) will only create more opportunities for Ben on the perimeter. After Tyrus, Ben is the second most likely player to have a career year next to Rose, assuming the coaching staff doesn’t limit his minutes.
I see this as a lose-lose for the Bulls organization, unless they somehow come to terms on a new contract. If he signs the QO, either we spend an entire season as the most offensively inept team in the NBA with BG glued to the bench, OR BG has that career year and then gets an absurd offer from Miami (who reportedly has some interest) or somebody else. If he gets that offer, the Bulls will either have to severely overpay to retain his services, or let him walk, neither of which is in the least bit tempting.
Obviously, it’s also possible he has an unremarkable season and enters next summer in the exact same conundrum as he is in now. But given the massive “disrespect” the Bulls have shown him, even then you have to acknowledge the possibility that he goes elsewhere for equal or even slightly less money than the Bulls have offered, simply to get away.
Unfortunately, Ben is the one at fault for the current situation between him and the Bulls. However, the Bulls ultimately may be the ones to pay for it. It’s at the point where I feel a sign-and-trade may be the most logical option for both sides. It’s nearly impossible to replace Ben’s offensive contributions in any reasonable trade scenario, but getting any value for him might be the smartest move, rather than risking losing him for nothing. The Bulls still possess leverage, but only for this one season. Ben has shown he is capable of turning down money if he thinks he can better his situation, and if he does it again this year, the Bulls lose what control they have over the situation altogether.
I wish I possessed your optimism. The Bulls became relevant again with Ben Gordon on the team, and I love watching the guy play. But sadly I think this situation is beyond repair. I’m already dreading the day he comes to The United Center and torches us for 50, taking passes from Dwyane Wade or some other Eastern Conference all-star.
Moe Said,
September 19, 2008 @ 2:51 pm
Brian you are rite on, im not a bulls fan but I have watched many bulls games and as far as contributing to winning games, especially wth the bulls not havin a low post scoring threat Ben Gordon has been the most useful bull in the half court whether it’s of the bench or in the starting ine up, he is the one guy that you would look at and fear on offense, and what he lacks in height (6′3) on defense he makes up for it with long arms, I just think paxson scrwed up with the signing of Wallace(Hughes now) so Ben Gordon is paying the price for that he needs to wake up and pay Ben, his only half court scoring threat!!
sean from cayman islands Said,
September 19, 2008 @ 4:32 pm
idiot…yes Deng got 70 mil, Kirilenko up in UTH has been in a two season slump and makes about 15 mil per, so does Larry Hughes who has been downhill..but these guys showed something that Ben aint got/cant get…they were, say it with my, VERSATILE!
take the 50mil…what r u? on crack? yer short and cant D, cant run an offense, even Hinrich is combo Guard material and he’s maxin out @ what 6? 7mil per.
BG needs to wake up…..D rose at the 1. Hinrich at the 2. Deng, either Noce ( small but effective here) or TT @ the 4 and Noah/ Whoever you can throw at em at the 5! effective, versatile young team….and PS…GREAT bench with BG, T Selfolosha, D gooden et al….just swallow it already.,…you are not getting above 10 mil…and that was last years offer! …more like 9 mil per now…..
rakmessiah Said,
September 19, 2008 @ 4:38 pm
Whether Gordon signs for a year (qualifying) or 2 yrs. or 5 years (original offer), until they do one of these, Pax is in a bind as to what other team changes he can and will make this year. With his job on the line, he cant afford a misstep(s) this season. So I think one this situation is solved, he can try to improve at the OTHER POSITIONS.
EXCEPT ——This Gordon situation has lingered so long that moves by Paxson for THIS YEAR have pretty much dried up. Can he get this Gordon situation resolved AND still make a significant trade at this late date. He’ll be A GENIUS IF HE CAN.
TIMING………..for all this has not worked out for Pax, for the Bulls, and for us FANS.
LIKELY…….Gordon signs, Pax makes NO OTHER RELEVENT MOVES,
he picks up some OLD veteran off the scrap heap, and the Bulls
and their new coach try to win a game of Monopoly with Chess pieces.
What do you guys think?
Robert BigWay Said,
September 19, 2008 @ 7:36 pm
Are you a moron or a liar, not you Sam, but this Kilianvaughn fool. The Chart which you linked to lists Gordon as 6′2″+ in shoes. Why would you quote this misinformation. Measure him in stripper platforms and he would be 6′7″ or more then he would definately be worth $12-$13 million a year.
Sam, you always mentions how hard Gordon works, however, he only seem to work hard on the one thing that he is already good at, shooting. Maybe if he spent a minute or two working on his ballhandling, defense, passing he might be servicable NBA player. As is, he is nothing more than a useless stat sheet stuffer on a bad team. Also, his attitude on the court absolutely sucks. He is a raging mope and a quitter. I watched every minute or every game last season, and Gordon quits on nearly every possession, offense and defense, when he is not shooting. Just watch him after he falls down, which he does about a dozen times a game, he makes no effort to get up an get back into the play. He looks like a quittter in football who doesn’t want to get up after he gets hit too hard.
He will be lucky to get a penny over the mid level exception if he reaches free agency next summer. If the Bulls sign him to a 6/59 deal he immediately becomes an untradable contract. His lack of value throughout the league could not be more obvious, by the lack of offers that he received, and the lack of any trade interest in him.
I think that he is a team cancer, second only to Ben Wallace. Get rid of him, followed by Hughes.
Good to hear from you again Sam, Thanks
Memo13 Said,
September 19, 2008 @ 7:53 pm
Very nice article!
Ben gets one thing very wrong, yes he is a nice, streaky scorer, but he is not dedicated enough on defense, he saves his energy for the offense, wich is fatal, because his opponents can beat him on the perimeter and in the post (often mentioned size problem).
That would mean losing a starting five position on most teams! Under these circumstances 10mio. a year is more than fair!
MAK Said,
September 19, 2008 @ 10:48 pm
First of all, let me say I think this was a very on point article. Secondly, I am glad to see all of the excitement for my beloved Bulls.
I really hope Ben comes to his senses and takes the deal even though I really like Thabo Sefolosha and think he has a Pippen-esque kind of game. With the addition of Rose and what I think will be the breakout year for Tyrus Thomas, the Bulls have a line-up that has the potential to win 50 games.
If I had to compare Ben Gordon to anyone, he reminds me of Vinny Johnson a-k-a “The Microwave”. A super sixth man who can come of the bench and light it up.
I LOVE MY BULLS AND CAN’T WAIT FOR THE SEASON TO START.
Bulls fans should check out the very limited edition Bulls rookie cards on http://www.cardtarget.com and http://www.etopps.com you can trade your favorite Bulls players like the stock market.
BallerBlogger Said,
September 19, 2008 @ 10:55 pm
Good read Sam. Chicago is making the right decision by holding out. Gordon isn’t worth the contract he’s seeking. Gordon is a good player, but he provides little more than scoring.
Vic Nardozza Said,
September 19, 2008 @ 11:57 pm
Sam, I am disappointed in you. Usually your article would propose several trades that would never happen (I never forgot how much you wanted to trade Scottie Pippen for Lionel Simmons). Anyway, Ben Gordon does not deserve anything close to what the Bulls are offering. I would pull the multi-year deal off the table. It’s either sign and trade (not likely) or 1-year tender. And I bet he signs with the Bulls for even less than he is being offered now after the 1-year. As the saying goes, he has the worst leverage in the history of leverage.
rt Said,
September 20, 2008 @ 1:51 am
AGREE!!!
He’ll sign…
Great article.
Man, we miss you Sam!!!
RTBLUES
Xeverex21 Said,
September 20, 2008 @ 4:08 am
Ben has been a good player since his first 3 in his rookie year. I just hate how the biggest offseason move is signing a player. What a waste of news.
Chuito1356 Said,
September 20, 2008 @ 7:24 am
Leave it to Mr. Sam Smith to supply me with my NBA and Bulls fix. What gves though? I thought you were officially out of the game?
John Said,
September 20, 2008 @ 8:30 am
Ben get over yourself!!! You quit like a baby last year on this team and now your like, “show me the money”. You want to walk around and get things handed to you in this town for free like your some kind of star, but your not. You may be the leading scorer on this team but what do you rank in the NBA? Where are all these teams linning up for you Ben? They are not, because nobody is going to pay a crybaby, 6ft guard who is a streaky shooter, doesn’ play d-fence, and has been wining the three years about his pay. YOU ARE A BABY!!! Your such a hard worker Ben, tell us that first playoff series with Washington, where were you the night before? You supposedly had a cold, but some of us know the real reason for you being sick. You and your croonies were demanding free drinks at the Bamboo Room in Schaumburg, seriously who do you think you are? Also, you took a very wedll known waitress home with you, she was know not for what you would think, but well why don’t you tell us because all of us that knew her knew what she was doing with you guys that night. Cold my butt, so think before you speak and demand because you have no idea who is watching and listining. YHou don’t deserve the 6.5 million let alone more than ten a year. Go to europe so I dopn’t have to look at your stupid face again!!
Kevin Said,
September 20, 2008 @ 6:48 pm
I want to care. I really do.
I was there for the championships. Some of the best times!
But, this current team will be bad - probably really bad - this year I fear.
I’m predicting chemistry problems, which are highlighted by Mr. Gordon, even if he signs. Didn’t we learn what a cancer that whole situation was last year? And Hughes?………
Just think where the Bulls would be without that lucky draft pick.
So, I’m trying to live by a new philosophy. I’ll invest my time and money in the Bulls when they begin to show that they care about putting a great product on the floor for me as a fan. Until then, I cancelled my DirecTV subscription, won’t go to any games, and won’t buy any merchandise. If more people would take the same approach, maybe the Bulls would find a way to improve the product. But, I suspect it will still be sellouts to witness more poor play.
Hope I’m wrong.
kilianvaughn Said,
September 21, 2008 @ 5:37 pm
Ben Gordon plays basketball in, um… shoes.Therefore, it’s relevant. He doesn’t play in “stripper platform shoes”. Therefore, that’s um… irrelevant. Most players’ listed heights on team sites are their “in-shoes” height, unless they’re weird like Tim Duncan or Kevin Garnett and don’t want to be labeled a 7-footer.
And obviously, how far from the floor the top of your head is matters a great deal in how good at basketball you are. Obviously. Because, you know, Michael Redd is an awesome defender. I think. Right?
Kevin Said,
September 21, 2008 @ 8:06 pm
unbelievable breakdown, you couldn’t have addressed it any better.. great work
Rich Said,
September 22, 2008 @ 11:09 pm
Q. What do Ben Gordon and Heather Mills-McCartney have in common?
A. Neither one is satisfied with $50 million.
Elvis Presley Said,
September 23, 2008 @ 3:32 pm
From http://www.chicagobullseye.com, “The Case For Gordon”:
Here are the ONLY current NBA players under 25 with a career PTS/G > 18, (Gordon’s current career number):
Brandon Roy: 18.1
Chris Paul: 18.2
Chris Bosh: 18.9
Kevin Durant: 20.3
Amare Stoudamire: 21.0
Carmelo Anthony: 24.4
LeBron James: 27.3
Here are the ONLY current players under 30 who have a career scoring average higher than Gordon’s:
Steve Francis: 18.1
Brandon Roy: 18.1
Chris Paul: 18.2
Peja Stojakovic: 18.2
Shawn Marion: 18.3
Pau Gasol: 18.8
Jason Richardson: 18.8
Chris Bosh: 18.9
Yao Ming: 19.0
Stephon Marbury: 19.7
Elton Brand: 20.3
Kevin Durant: 20.3
Michael Redd: 20.5
Amare Stoudemire: 21.0
Tracy McGrady: 22.4
Dirk Nowitzki: 22.4
Gilbert Arenas: 22.8
Paul Pierce: 23.1
Dwyane Wade: 23.9
Carmelo Anthony: 24.4
Kobe Bryant: 25.0
LeBron James: 27.3
EVERY player on these lists has a higher career Minutes Per Game average.
WEE G Said,
September 24, 2008 @ 5:48 pm
I am what you call a true Bulls Fan I have seen the glory days of Jordan Pippen Rodman and Jackson and the hard days of Jalen Rose Ron Mercer and Tim Floyd and to me Ben Gordon is one of the Bulls most consistent players and most exciting His rookie year he was behind only Kobe in 4th quarter scoring and that was for the season I am a Deng fan as well GO DUKE but Ben Gordon has been really the backbone of this willing to start come off the bench run point shooting guard anything that Skiles asked of him even occasional defense stats and wins speak for themselves
Terence Tate Said,
September 25, 2008 @ 4:35 pm
Here’s the deal, the Bulls over paid for Loug Deng. Deng a good guy but he’s actually the worst small forward in his division. Moreover, Ben Gordon is a better basketball player…yes, it would be great if he were 6′6, but he’s not…Ben could be all all-star in the right situation…and that situation is not here in Chicago…he would fit better in offense that is NOT designed for a pentitate and dish point guard…in the triangle or with Lebron, Ben Gordon would be almost unstoppable…so, I hope for their sake and Ben’s that the Bulls trade Gordon to another team
Eddie King Said,
September 25, 2008 @ 8:34 pm
Mr. Smith I definitely respect and agree with the article. I love your coverage of the Bulls as well because unlike everyone else in the papers and media (except Jay Mariotti) in Chicago, you actually “tell it like it is” about the Bulls. I am the biggest Bulls fan in the world and will always be, and I love Ben Gordon. No one else even mentioned how clutch of a scorer he is (arguably, in the top 5, in NBA). That being said, I don’t mind him pushing for every dollar he can get, because this is a business, but it’s now close to training camp and He needs to accept an offer, whatever that maybe and keep quiet about it until next summer. If he would’ve got traded to the Lakers (which he should’ve, and we’d have Kobe and probably Gasol) they wouldn’t have offered him any more that. If he got down and played lockdown defense, then yeah, he would get a bigger offer, but to only do one thing (be it very well), you really need to except that deal, because he may be at the peak of his career right now (along with Kirk Hinrich, Ugh!) Great work Mr. Smith!
Eddie King “The best player no one has ever seen”, and “one of the most knowledgable basketball minds around”