National Pride
Bulls forward Andres Nocioni is hungry to repeat as a gold medal winner at the Beijing games. Nocioni and the Argentinean squad shocked the world in Athens in 2004, defeating the United States and going on to win the gold. Nocioni expressed the intense pride he feels when playing for his home country of Argentina. “I love to play for the Chicago Bulls because I’m the kind of guy that when I play somewhere for more than two years, it becomes my team to me emotionally,” Nocioni said in a story in the Chicago Tribune. “But with the national team, you are representing your home country. So I feel it in my heart, I feel it in my chest, I feel it in my national colors.”
Nocioni has never been one to conceal his emotions. He gives everything he’s got out on the floor, whether playing for Argentina or the Bulls. With Luol Deng locked up to a long term contract, Nocioni is clearly considered to be a role player as the two play the same position. He’s the type of role player that brings a lot to the table though, as his game is versatile and he’s never lacking in the hustle department.
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Gordon Likely Gone
It’s looking more and more like Ben Gordon has suited up for the Bulls for the last time. Gordon was recently quoted as saying, “”I guess it’s safe to say I’ve played my last game in a Bulls uniform.” Gordon said that his agent has been discussing sign-and-trade options with other teams and that a stint in Europe is not out of the question. The Bulls have reportedly offered Gordon approximately $60 million over six years, but the 25-year-old shooting guard feels that he’s worth more. He is supposedly asking for more money than the $71 million that forward Luol Deng received this summer.
While it appears that the Bulls are pretty set with a backcourt rotation of Derrick Rose, Larry Hughes, Kirk Hinrich and Thabo Sefolosha, it’s hard to imagine someone paying Gordon the kind of money he’s seeking. Is there a team out there that deems him a “best player on the roster” kind of guy? We’ve seen crazier things happen. Gordon has said that he won’t sign the Bulls’ one-year qualifying offer of $6.4 million, which would allow him to play out the season with the club and become an unrestricted free agent next summer. While the sign-and-trade idea is floating around NBA circles, this blogger wouldn’t be surprised to see Gordon end up overseas with a short-term contract.
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TT Turning 22
Bulls forward Tyrus Thomas turns 22 tomorrow, which may surprise some people who feel like he’s been around for a while. But Thomas is still very young and very raw. Thomas was a top five pick in the 2006 NBA draft and was a hot name leading up to the selection. He had a standout freshman season at LSU and parlayed a good NCAA tournament into becoming a lottery pick. He averaged 6.8 points and 4.6 rebounds this past season for the Bulls, but is yet to remain consistent.
This is the year that the Bulls will really know what they have in Tyrus Thomas. Entering his third year in the league, he should be more than just a highlight reel of dunks and blocks. The Bulls desperately need someone to score on the block and they’re going to be looking at Thomas to help out in that area. While the player the Bulls originally selected on draft day in ’06 and was eventually traded for Thomas, LaMarcus Aldridge, is shining in Portland, Thomas has struggled to earn minutes. He had a solid summer league performance, but he needs to take a big step in the 2008-2009 season or the bust tag is going to start to chase him.
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Rose vs. Beasley Going National
The Bulls have 10 nationally televised games this season, not bad for a team who missed the playoffs. The presence of Derrick Rose might have a little something to do with the national exposure the team will receive this season. Three of the ten games will be played against the Miami Heat and fellow rookie Michael Beasley. The NBA and the networks are obviously looking to fuel the Rose vs. Beasley debate. Even though Rose is Chicago native, there were still plenty of people in the Windy City who preferred Beasley to the Memphis point guard. Beasley’s fantastic statistical season at Kansas State was off the charts, but this blogger thinks the Bulls made the right call, despite their need for inside scoring.
The Bulls visit the Heat the day after Christmas in the first of their nationally televised games against Miami. Things will heat up in Chicago when Beasley comes into town on February 12 and again on March 26th. There are several other matchups between the two rookies, but not in nationally televised games. These games should be really interesting as each player is going to be under the microscope. I expect Beasley to outshine Rose from a statistical standpoint this season, but people should resist the temptation to jump on the bandwagon right off the bat.
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Grizzlies Won’t Pounce on Gordon
It’s almost impossible to imagine the Memphis Grizzlies, the only team with significant cap space, extending an offer for Bulls restricted free agent Ben Gordon. It appears more and more likely by the day that Gordon and the Bulls will not reach an agreement on a long term deal, thus leaving Gordon without many options. Gordon is overvaluing his skill set and his importance to the team and the Bulls appear to be standing pat with their offer of six years for approximately $60 million.
Memphis wasn’t expected to use any of their cap space this summer, as they’re right on the threshold of the minimum team salary in ratio to the salary cap. But the club surprised everyone last week by offering nearly $60 million to Hawks restricted free agent Josh Smith, a sheet which the Hawks matched. Do not think that because the Grizz decided to throw some money Smith’s way that they’ll do the same with Gordon. The Grizzlies have a ton of guards on their roster and Smith would have provided an inside presence that the team sorely lacks. In Memphis Gordon would find himself in a backcourt more crowded than the one he’s currently in with the Bulls. This upcoming season will probably be Gordon’s last with the team, as the roster already includes Derrick Rose, Kirk Hinrich and Larry Hughes.
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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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Gordon Doubtful He’ll Be a Bull
Ben Gordon is doubtful that he’ll be donning a Bulls uniform in the upcoming NBA season. The restricted free agent recently told reporters that he and the Bulls have been unable to find any common ground as far as a contract goes. “Right now, honestly, it doesn’t look like it,” Gordon told the Hartford Courant when asked if he was going to return to the team. Gordon turned down a five-year deal worth approximately $50 million last offseason and the team is reportedly offering the shooting guard a six-year deal somewhere in the $60 million range. Gordon led the Bulls in scoring last season, averaging 18.6 points per game, down from 21.4 per game the previous season.
While Gordon says it’s unlikely that he’ll return to the team next season, that’s easier said than done. Because he’s a restricted free agent, the Bulls can match any offer sheet that Gordon signs with another team. With Memphis the only club remaining with significant cap space, it appears Gordon doesn’t have much for options. The only way this blogger can see him leaving Chicago this offseason is through a sign-and-trade, an option that is notoriously difficult to pull off. The most probably scenario, at this point, seems to be Gordon signing a one-year qualifying offer and becoming an unrestricted free agent next summer.
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Gordon Expecting Too Much
Bulls restricted free agent Ben Gordon remains unsigned. ESPN.com’s Chad Ford ranks Gordon as the third-best free agent left on the market. Fellow restricted free agent Josh Smith tops the list, followed by Andre Iguodala. The Bulls and Gordon remain far apart as far as terms of a contract go.
The problem with Gordon is that he thinks he’s a star. I can see why he thinks that too; he’s put up a lot of big games. When you’re in the zone, you feel unstoppable. Gordon is a streak shooter and frequently provides the team with scoring outbursts. When he’s splashing three after three, it’s hard to tell anyone that he’s not a star in the league. But the following night, he’ll give a 5-14 performance, or something similar to that. His inconsistency and reliability on outside shooting, which go hand in hand, have made him a specialist of sorts. He’s the perfect sixth man to provide a spark off the bench when a team’s starters are struggling to score, and in that role he can be benched quickly if he’s firing up bricks. But Gordon is demanding to be paid like a star, or at least a rising star, neither of which he appears to be. He’s a talented scorer, but it’s no surprise the negotiations between Gordon and the Bulls are making little progress.
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Bulls Schedule Released
The NBA has released the 2008-2009 schedule. The Bulls will open the season at home against the Milwaukee Bucks on October 28. This game will mark the debut of number one overall pick Derrick Rose. It’s uncertain whether Rose will be the starting point guard by then, but just seeing him in a Bulls uniform should have Chicago fans pumped. Bulls fans should also prepare to see a more focused Luol Deng embark on what this blogger believes will be his best season yet. He knows he’s locked up long-term with the Bulls and he’ll be ready to bring it.
The Bulls follow up their opener with a trip to Boston to face the defending champion Celtics. The day after Christmas, the Bulls will travel to Miami where Rose will face off against Michael Beasley. The debate on whether the Bulls made the right choice in selecting Rose over Beasley will surely rage on for years, but this matchup will be the first look fans get of them on the same court. The Bulls have 10 nationally televised games this season, three of which will feature Rose vs. Beasley and two of which will be against LeBron James and the Cavaliers.
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Win Now or Wade Later?
The Bulls would like to win now, sure, but is there a possibility that clearing cap space could be a better long-term strategy for the team? The free agent class of 2010 has been much discussed as it will likely feature LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. All Chicago basketball fans should recognize one of those names. Dwyane Wade grew up in Chicago and could be tempted to plan a homecoming if the Bulls were able to offer him ample compensation.
With Luol Deng the only player making big money come 2010 and Derrick Rose on his rookie salary, the Bulls would only have to move Ben Gordon and Kirk Hinrich before the 2010 offseason to clear enough cap space. Moving Gordon might be a non-issue as he and the Bulls appear to be at an impasse in contract negotiations. Hinrich, with a bounce-back year, could be a really attractive player for some teams. It’s difficult seeing the Heat as a more attractive destination than the Bulls as Chicago will have two young guns that would work well with Wade. Rose is a pass-first point guard and Deng looks more like a sidekick than a superhero sometimes, though he is supremely talented. This option is something the team should consider.
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