Next Summer May Not Be Much Kinder to Gordon

Bulls restricted free agent Ben Gordon is going to have to make a decision on his future with the organization.  The Bulls have made an offer suitable with his perceived market value, his value in the eyes of NBA general managers, that is, not his own.  He’s not going to receive a big contract from any other team, foreign or domestic, and the Bulls appear to be standing firm on their six-year $50 million ceiling.  It’s understandable that Gordon may not want to remain with the Bulls because of the crowded backcourt situation.  With Derrick Rose, Kirk Hinrich, Larry Hughes and Thabo Sefolosha on the roster, there isn’t going to be tons of playing time for Gordon.  He’d probably be able to get 20 to 30 minutes a night among the glut of guards, but he feels he’s a star and would naturally want more PT.

Gordon could try to ride the season out by accepting the $6.4 million one-year qualifying offer the Bulls have offered, which would make him an unrestricted free agent next summer and enable him to seek the big, long-term dollars he wants then.  But the 2009 free agent class boasts unrestricteds like Shawn Marion, Allen Iverson, Ron Artest and Lamar Odom, a restricted list that could include Andrew Bynum, Danny Granger and David Lee and players with early termination options that includes Kobe Bryant.  It would seem that Gordon could easily get lost in the shuffle next summer and receive offers substantially less in dollars and years than what the Bulls are offering him now.

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