Gordon appears to have a deal with Detroit
Yahoo.com reported that Ben Gordon has agreed to a five-year, $55-million deal with the Detroit Pistons. The Detroit News, usually a reliable source of Pistons news, called it a five-year deal worth more than $50 million.
The Bulls' leading scorer for the past four seasons spent Wednesday in Auburn Hills, Mich., on a free-agent recruiting visit. He can't officially sign a new contract until July 8.
Realistically, Gordon staying with the Bulls was a long shot. For the past two years, Gordon turned down offers from the Bulls that were similar to what he’ll likely get from the Pistons. Those deals he turned down were believed to be five years, $50 million in 2008 and six years, $54 million last summer.
Knowing there was a chance they could lose their leading scorer, the Bulls traded for John Salmons from Sacramento last February. The Bulls also figure to keep Kirk Hinrich, who can play both guard spots and is a better defensive player.
If the NBA’s luxury-tax threshold drops, as expected, from last year’s $71.15 million, the Bulls won’t be able to add much more than a minimum-salary contract to find a replacement. Here’s a suggestion: former Bull Thomas Gardner, who played for Atlanta last season.
Besides Gordon, the Pistons reportedly brought former Bucks power forward Charlie Villanueva for a visit. Those two were once Connecticut teammates.
Bulls supposedly offered 5/50 and 6/54 the last 2 summers (10 and 9 per year). I know 5/55 is a better deal in absolute numbers and on a per year basis, but I'm still surprised he picked Detroit over an exciting and upward trending Bulls team for a deal that is only marginally better in my view. But that's his choice.
My only feeling now is that the Bulls should have traded him last summer when he rejected their offer. Although, I guess there is some rule that says you can't trade a guy without his consent if he accepts a 1 year qualifying offer in his 5th year of service. It just pains me to see a 20 point scorer and the #3 guy selected in a draft walk away with nothing in return.
Obviously the Salmons acquisition was important and a healthy Deng would go a long way to mitigate some of Ben's loss, but I think Mr. Forman now needs to look at his glut of non-scoring PFs and deal one or two through a 3-way trade to land a Carlos Boozer or a Chris Bosh.