Free Agency Begins Tomorrow

Now that the draft has passed and the Bulls got their man in Derrick Rose, the team will have to make some decisions concerning their free agents.  Both Luol Deng and Ben Gordon will become restricted free agents tomorrow, meaning the Bulls have the opportunity to match any offer either player receives from another team.  Deng declined a $57.5 million extension from the Bulls in October and Gordon rejected a five year deal worth $50 million last summer.

In retrospect, both of these contractual moves look like mistakes.  There is no way Gordon is going to receive an offer like the aforementioned one this time around.  He’s an undersized two-guard who can do little else besides score.  He’s also incredibly streaky and seems to struggle in a starting role, though he’s often clamoring for one.  But this is NBA free agency, and it always seems like at least one team is willing to take a chance on almost any player, so Gordon may get an offer for a big contract, though the Bulls wouldn’t be likely to match it.  Deng is the player more likely to be wearing a Bulls uniform next season.  He and Rose should be the cornerstones of the franchise, and I think the Bulls need to match any reasonable offer Deng might receive.  Deng may or may not receive a deal similar to the one offered to him last fall, but the Bulls need to do whatever they can to keep him unless he receives a max offer from someone.  He’s only 23 and has already had some very productive seasons.

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