Bye Bye Ben

It looks like Ben Gordon’s tenure as a Chicago Bull has come to a close.  Gordon has reportedly agreed to a deal with the Detroit Pistons to the tune of approximately $55 million over the next five years.  Free agents can’t officially sign until July 8^th, but this looks like a done deal form Gordon’s comments.  “I don’t have any regrets, and I don’t have any bitter feelings for the Bulls,” Gordon told the Chicago Tribune.  ”Business is business.  I’m going to a situation now where winning is the No. 1 priority.  I’m happy with my decision.”

The Bulls were unable to come to terms with Gordon on a contract last summer when the shooting guard was a restricted free agent.  Gordon rejected offers in a similar range to what he accepted from Detroit, but that’s probably more due to the current economic landscape of the NBA than his feelings towards his former team.  Chicago selected Gordon with the third overall pick in the 2004 draft out of the University of Connecticut.  He led the Bulls in scoring each of the past four seasons, averaging 20.7 points per game on 45.5 percent shooting last year and 21.3 points per game for his career.

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The Right Fit

ESPN’s Rick Bucher lists unrestricted free agent Ben Gordon as the second best player currently on the market.  He describes Gordon as a pure scorer.  “Despite his size (6-foot-3), he can elevate and knock down contested jumpers off the dribble against almost anybody and get to the rim,” writes Bucher.  ”Quick brakes and release are the keys.  Mediocre or worse in every other aspect of the game, but you can count on between 20 to 30 points every night and half of those in the fourth quarter.”

Bucher notes that remaining with the Bulls would be the best fit for the shooting guard and goes on to describe the right system for him.  “Simple and wide-open with a place to hide him on defense,” says Bucher.  ”Teammates who will do the dirty work without complaint and a point guard strong enough to keep the rest of the team involved and defend the opposing shooting guard.”  Bucher notes the Hawks, Mavericks, Timberwolves, Knicks, Suns and Hornets as other teams that would be good fits for Gordon.  The Suns and Hornets are probably out, as they’re in penny-pinching mode this summer.  The Knicks are saving cap space for next summer, while the Timberwolves look to be building around their young players and the Mavericks are looking to resign Jason Kidd first and foremost.  The Hawks are intriguing, but I don’t see it with Joe Johnson and Jamal Crawford in the backcourt, plus they need to use their cap space on re-signing restricted free agent Marvin Williams.

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Free Agency Begins Tonight

With the NBA’s free agency period kicking off tonight at midnight eastern time, Bulls’ guard Ben Gordon will certainly receive his fair share of calls when the clock strikes 12.  ESPN’s Chad Ford has him listed as the number one unrestricted free agent on the market this summer.  “Gordon is an explosive scorer and has one of the sweetest jump shots in the game,” Ford writes.  ”But he is undersized for a shooting guard and he doesn’t play great defense.  On virtually every team, his best position is as a high-scoring sixth man.  The question we’re about to answer is, what is the market value of a player like that?”

“Gordon will have suitors,” Ford continues.  “The Bulls want to re-sign him badly and their main competition will come from the Pistons - but as his agent learned last summer when he sought to get Gordon traded to another team via a sign-and-trade, it’s going to be tough to find a team willing to break the bank for him.”  The Pistons are definitely interested, but I’ve also heard that Oklahoma City could make a run at Gordon.  I don’t think the Bulls will pay him a ton of money, so there’s a good chance that he walks is he receives a substantial offer to play elsewhere.

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Could Bulls’ Picks Signal Thomas’ Departure?

The Bulls definitely strengthened their front line in last week’s draft by selecting Wake Forest forward James Johnson and USC power forward Taj Gibson.  The Johnson pick, made at 16, seems to be a solid one.  “The Bulls have wanted Johnson for a while,” writes ESPN’s Chad Ford.  ”He’s a good athlete who can play the three and the four on both ends of the floor.  His game needs to develop, but when he gets going, he’s something.  He reminds me a little of Chicago’s Tyrus Thomas in one way - he’ll play great one minute and have his coach pulling his hair out the next.  With Thomas on the trade block, Johnson may ultimately be his replacement.”

“Gibson is a good pick for the Bulls in that he’s long and athletic and has some upside,” Ford says of the USC product.  ”But with so many young, skinny frontcourt players, I’m not sure how he fits exactly.”  These picks seem to make it more likely that the team will be trying to find Thomas a new home this offseason.  He’s shown flashes, but his inconsistency has been his trademark thus far.  With these two rookies on board, it may be time to ship Thomas while he still has some value.

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Bulls Nab Johnson, Gibson in Draft

The Bulls ended up keeping both of their first-round picks in last night’s NBA Draft, selecting Wake Forest forward James Johnson with the 16^th overall pick and nabbing USC forward Taj Gibson at 26.  ESPN’s Chad Ford thinks the Bulls had their eye on North Carolina forward Tyler Hansbrough, but were forced to go to Plan B when the former National Player of the Year went 13^th to Indiana.  “I think the Bulls had their hearts set on Tyler Hansbrough and probably were a bit crestfallen when they couldn’t move up and get him,” Ford writes.  ”Like Hansbrough, Johnson brings toughness, but with a bit of an edge that could make the Bulls a little less comfortable.  Gibson is skilled and versatile but, like Johnson, is no sure thing.”

“I think the value of Chicago’s draft will be clearer once we see what happens via free agency with Ben Gordon and potential trades with Kirk Hinrich and Tyrus Thomas,” Ford continues.  ”There’s upside here, but not enough to get excited about at this point.”  Ford gave the Bulls a B- grade for their overall draft.  I understand the Johnson pick, but I am surprised that the team didn’t pounce on Pitt forward DeJuan Blair at 26 despite his knee concerns.

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Draft Night

The NBA Draft is tonight and the Bulls will add at least one player that they hope to make an impact in the upcoming NBA season.  The Bulls have been trying to parlay the 16^th and 26^th picks in the draft in order to acquire a lottery pick, but ESPN’s Chad Ford predicts in his latest mock draft that the Bulls, if unable to move up, will use the 16^th pick on Wake Forest forward James Johnson.  “The Bulls have been working the phones this week trying to move up in the draft,” Ford writes.  “They’ve talked to the Nets, Bobcats and Pacers about swapping the 16th and 26th picks to move up a few spots.”

“Who are they after?” asks Ford.  ”I’ve heard everything from Johnson to Blair to Hansbrough to Williams to Mullens here.  Last night a new name, Omri Casspi, surfaced as a possibility.  To be honest, I can’t get a terrific handle on which way they are leaning.  Blair is the most physical.  Casspi isn’t far behind.  Hansbrough is the most NBA-ready.  Mullens has the most upside.  Johnson is somewhere in between.  I’m not sure exactly how Johnson fits in Chicago with Luol Deng on one side and Tyrus Thomas on the other, but there’s no question about his upside.”  My contention is that the Bulls will pull the trigger on Blair if he’s available at 16 and will look to get someone like Toney Douglas or Wayne Ellington later in the first round.

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Thomas, Hinrich Could Be on the Move

The Bulls could not only trade their two first-round picks tomorrow, but we could also see them move some players.  Tyrus Thomas and Kirk Hinrich could be two players on the move between now and the end of the draft.  “Chicago, by all accounts, has been increasingly open in its willingness to move power forward Tyrus Thomas,” writes ESPN’s Chad Ford.  ”Kirk Hinrich, meanwhile, is said to be prominent on Portland’s wish list given the Blazers’ growing pessimism about persuading Phoenix to part with Steve Nash via trade and their ability to sign Jason Kidd away from Dallas.”

We know that Phoenix GM Steve Kerr covets Thomas, but it’s unlikely a trade with the Suns goes down unless Amare Stoudemire is being talked about.  I just don’t see what else the Bulls would find attractive on their roster.  Portland GM Kevin Pritchard is a big fan of Hinrich, and has been for some time.  The Blazers need a point guard, and would love what Hinrich brings to the table.  The Blazers have some intriguing young players that the Bulls could try to pry away.  Moving Hinrich could also potentially free up enough cap space to make Ben Gordon a substantial offer this summer.

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Still Trying to Move Up

It looks as though the Bulls are still looking to trade up in the first round of Thursday’s NBA Draft.  The Bulls are reportedly talking to teams about sending the 16^th and 26^th picks to move up a few spots, though it’s unclear which specific player the team is so high on.  “Chicago has talked to the Nets, Bobcats and Pacers about swapping No. 16 and No. 26 to get into the lottery,” writes ESPN’s Chad Ford.  ”It sounds like the Bulls are down to one potential trade partner in the lottery.  The Nets are leaning strongly toward keeping their pick at No. 11.  And if the Bobcats made a promise to Williams at No. 12, they’re out, too.  That leaves the Pacers at No. 13.”

It’s difficult to get a read on what the Pacers are looking to do on draft day, or if the Bulls are looking at the same players that Indiana, Phoenix or Detroit are, according to Ford.  “The Pacers have been one of the hardest teams to peg in the draft,” he said.  ”DeJuan Blair, Tyler Hansbrough, Eric Maynor, Ty Lawson and Jeff Teague all are on their board right now.  If the Bulls want any of those guys - or the guys the Suns (No. 14) and Pistons (No. 15) are looking at - they’ll have to make the deal.”

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16th Pick Still Cloudy

It’s still not clear who exactly the Bulls are targeting with the 16^th pick in this Thursday’s draft.  ESPN’s Chad Ford has the team selecting Wake Forest forward James Johnson in his latest mock draft.  “The Bulls have been working the phones this week trying to move up in the draft,” Ford writes.  ”They’ve talked to the Nets, Bobcats and Pacers about swapping the 16th and 26th picks to move up a few spots. Who are they after?  I’ve heard everything from Johnson to Blair to Hansbrough to Williams to Mullens here.  To be honest, I can’t get a terrific handle on which way they are leaning.”

If Chad Ford is having trouble getting a handle on things in the Bulls’ war room, then it must be pretty cloudy.  Ford goes on to give his opinions on the fits of the potential players.  “Hansbrough is the most NBA ready.  Mullens has the most upside.  Johnson is somewhere in between.  I’m not sure exactly how Johnson fits in Chicago with Luol Deng on one side and Tyrus Thomas on the other, but there’s no question about his upside.”  I still think the team should select Blair because of his toughness and knack for rebounding.  His knees are a concern, but sometimes you have to roll the dice.

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Bulls Trading Up?

There is a lot of buzz concerning the draft right now, as we’re less than a week away from draft night.  One of the latest rumors has the Bulls trying to trade up in the first round by packaging their pair of first-round selections.  “The Bulls seem to be the latest team trying to move up in the draft,” writes ESPN’s Chad Ford.  ”They’ve talked to several teams in front of them in the draft with an offer of the No. 16 and No. 26 picks in the draft.  It sounds as if the Nets have been their target and it might make sense for the Nets to jump on the deal.”

The Nets hold the 11^th pick, which would result in the Bulls moving up five spots from the position of their current first pick.  The question is who the Bulls are targeting.  Teams don’t just move up in the draft to improve their general standing; they usually have a guy they really want and think they need to move up to get.  It’s unlikely Arizona power forward Jordan Hill slips to 11, but he’d be a very good fit for Chicago.  Perhaps the team thinks highly of DeMar DeRozan’s potential and could be looking to move up to get the former Trojan.

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