Gordon, Deng Running Out of Options

The Bulls have been quiet during free agency thus far, despite the fact that they have two restricted free agents on their roster in Ben Gordon and Luol Deng.  There hasn’t been much reported about the team being close to agreeing to a long-term deal with either player.  Gordon led the team in scoring last season, averaging 18.6 point per game.  Deng, still only 23, averaged 17 points and six rebounds in what was considered a down year for the young forward.  Both players definitely took a step back last season, Deng more than Gordon.  Deng is probably the best player on the team, besides Derrick Rose, and could be the cornerstone of a franchise.

Both players have been waiting to see if they’d receive offer sheets from other teams this offseason.  With everybody’s cap room now swallowed up, save the Memphis Grizzlies who have no intention of spending any money this offseason, it looks like the players have two options.  Gordon and Deng can sign long-term deals with the Bulls that are probably worth a little bit lower than they’d like, or they can sign one-year tender offers and become unrestricted free agents next summer.  The latter is a risky move for both sides.  The Bulls could end up losing one, or both, of the players next year and receiving nothing in return, but Deng and Gordon could have sub-par seasons yet again and do further damage to their market value.

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