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Bulls Tue Jun 30 2009
Whither Ben Gordon?
The NBA's free agency season starts tonight at 23:00 CST and the question on many fans of the Bulls is" What team is making the grab for BG7?" Gordon, Chicago's mercurial, shoot-first-ask-questions-later guard, has strongly been linked with divisional rival, Detroit. With flirtations between Pistons GM, Joe Dumars, and Gordon's agent getting downright ribald* at moments. The Pistons after taking a huge step backward last season (barely qualifying for the playoffs as the 8 seed and getting swept by Cleveland in the first round) after making it, at least, to the Conference Finals for the past six seasons, have started the housecleaning by firing head coach, Michael Curry, today.
With the other target of Dumars' desires Jazz power forward, Carlos Boozer, reupping with the Utah; Gordon will likely be pursued with more than just the typical flowers and heart-shaped box of chocolates. Detroit has a TON of cash to spend this year and with a rapidly aging core of players, Dumars will easily be putting down for whomever he wants. Chicago on the other hand is, seemingly, ready to part with the occasionally petulant and demanding Gordon. BG7, who can just as easily shoot your team out of a game when he's ice-cold, is looking for a max deal and Chicago (with good reason) is looking to save it's pennies and nickels, cut coupons, whatnot for the free agency extravaganza next offseason in hopes of luring a Chris Bosh or Amare Stoudemire, or, gulp, even a LeBron or Dwayne Wade* to complement the impressive young gun, Derrick Rose.
Whether or not Gordon does get lured away by the piles of money Detroit is willing to give him, fret not, Bulls fans. Gordon will continue to be an offensive black hole regardless of what jersey he dons and on the plus side without his contract the Bulls will be free to lure away a certain Shawn Marion* from the Toronto Raptors. Meanwhile, the departing Gordon would allow --nay! force!-- VDN's hand into placing the tallish Jon Salmons into the 2 guard slot and allow that small forward slot to be handled with aplomb by the likes of Tyrus Thomas (fingers crossed, at least). Seriously! a starting lineup of PG: Rose; SG: Salmons; SF: Tyrus/Marion; PF: Noah; C: Miller Time; I'm smelling Oscar-contender or match-up nightmare for well-nigh, every team in the Association. Note: even if Shawn Marion does get signed with the Bulls he's gonna come with a price tag and the Bulls management probably won't be willing to pay it still...if we're willing to get all-aboard the crazy-never-will-happen train. But what if it does...
*No, not really ribald.
*Not bloody likely.
*Utter and hopeful speculation on the author's part.
