Options Limited

With each passing day the likelihood of the Bulls coming to terms with restricted free agent Ben Gordon becomes less and less.  The team and the shooting guard can’t seem to come to terms on a deal and the two sides are reportedly far apart as far as compensation goes.  The Bulls have expressed their reluctance to exceed the salary cap and entering into the dreaded luxury tax territory.  Gordon is one of the top free agents left on the market, but it’s unlikely he’ll receive any offers.  The only team with significant cap space left is the Memphis Grizzlies.  The Grizzlies have their own glut of guards, similar to the Bulls’.  Plus the Grizzlies just landed O.J. Mayo who is a better version of Gordon in a lot of ways.

As a sign-and-trade seems unlikely because nobody in their right minds would want to give Gordon star player money, the option of Gordon accepting a one-year qualifying offer with the Bulls is the most likely scenario to unfold.  Gordon would play the upcoming season with the team and become an unrestricted free agent next summer, giving him the ability to go to the team of his choice without fear of the Bulls matching the offer.

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