Paxson is set to open contract extension talks with both Deng and Gordon sometime this week. Does anyone want to predict what will be the outcome of those talks? Who will/won't get the extension. How much each player will sign for?

I'm guessing right now that Deng's extension will be far less of a hassle than Gordon's. Gordon recently hired a new agent which tells me he's looking out for #1.

I'm predicting Deng signs in the first 2 weeks of his contract talks and gets a 5 year $60-62 million deal (which averages $12-$12.4 million per) However, that deal will probably start off with him making $10-10.4 million his first year, $11-11.4 his 2nd year, $12-12.4 his 3rd year, $13 his 4th year, and $14-$14.4 his final year. Then he'll still only be around 28 years old and still would be able to sign another big time deal assuming he continues to improve during those 5 years.

As for Gordon, I'm kind of worried that he might go into next season without signing an extension. If that happens, the Bulls might really consider trading him at the trading deadline. I'm thinking a team with a lot of cap room would probably make him a stupid offer if he went into free agency and that would put the Bulls in a bad position. I'm hoping that he gets re-signed. If he does I'm thinking his contract will look something like this:

5 years $52.5 million. The contract would start off with $9.5 million and then excalate as to, $10, $10.5, $11, & $11.5. I think that's how much Ben will be looking for. However, Paxson might only be willing to give him something in the neighborhood of 5 years $47 million ($9.4 million per year).

We'll see what happens.

deng 5 years, 60 mill

gordon 5 years, 55-60 mill


i love it

edd we actually agree on something

I dont think gordon's extension will get done. Paxson has said many times in dealing with both these and kirk's extensions that he isnt offering these guys the maximum amount they are worth.

They have to accept a little less for long term security.

With that in mind, we know pax is not totally sold on gordon as the long term starter, so his offer could be quite a bit less than deng's. I think gordon will want a little more than Krich, and they will be offering him slightly less.


I think they will work deng's out for something a little higher than you guys said. 5 years 65 million. Deng is the only player on the team that, if he asked for the max, i'd give it to him.

i think deng gets 5 years 65 mill
i think gordon will get a deal done and get 5 years 55-60 mill

I think a deal will get done with both guys. I think most of you are on track here with Gordon's deal averaging ~10 mil/yr, while Deng's will average ~13 mil/yr.

Luol Deng can basically write a blank check because he is the future and the number 1 player in this franchise right now. I wouldn't be suprised if he gets a max deal but for Gordon, I expect a lesser deal definitely not a max deal.

Gordon maybe gets 4 years option for 5th for 50-55 mil.

I expect Gordon to get somewhere in between Hinrichs contract and a max deal and Deng I expect to get slightly lower than the Max.

Gordon's deal will be probably similar to Hinrich's deal when all is said and done. Deng might just be pushing a max deal if Pax is serious about signing him.

I've got a bad feeling that Gordon is going to try to cash in big time. He could easily look at his scoring average, and the fact that he's the #1 option on a contender, and the contract that Rashard Lewis just got and say "damn, why can't I get a max deal?" Obviously that's nuts, but he's made some grumblings in the past about his role, and any time you hire a new agent that's rarely a good sign.

Maybe I'm full of it, that's just what my gut is telling me. I don't see them working out an extension this off-season.

I agree. Gordon will be a problem.

If it comes down to it, we always have the option with Little Ben of simply matching whatever some other team offers him next offseason.

I don't see how he won't get the max if he hits the market. Not saying he deserves it, just saying lots of teams are not as conservative as the bulls when it comes to overpaying.

As one of our own players...it doesn't hurt us if teams offer him a high contract. Because either we can pull a sign and trade and pick up something else useful or because the only thing it costs us is the luxury tax, and I really don't care whether or not JR has to pay a few extra bucks if that's what the team needs.

Gordon will face a similar problem as Chauncey Billups and Anderson Varejao did this year and Tyson did before and any other restricted free agent where his team claims they will match any offer.

Because like all those other guys, next year Pax will keep saying he will match any offer for Gordon. That will scare teams away from wasting an offer on him bc Paxson could take 10 days and then decide to match, making that team miss out on other free agents. Gordon also will probably not be the first choice on a lot of team's lists bc he is undersized. Next year is a loaded FA class so the only teams looking at him as a first choice have to have a big PG or be looking for him to come off the bench, and therefore not offer him more than pax would match.

1st of all, the only way a bunch of teams won't be looking at Gordon next year in free agency is if he re-signs with the Bulls this offseason. If Gordon goes into next year as a restricted free agent he's going to get several teams looking at him.

However, not many will probably have the room to sign him. I can think of several teams not including the Knicks b/c they are a given that would love to have a player like Gordon. Many are over the cap. Gordon is a pure scorer and there aren't many of those in the league. Even if you are short, can't play the best D you still can make big money b/c of your ability to put the ball in the basket. Not to mention that lethal outside shot is enough to get average players $6-8 million a year (just ask Kapono).

I think if Gordon is offered a contract around $10-12 per he'll probably sign it. However, if he gets a 5 year $40-45 million dollar offer I think that's when there is going to be some problems with him, his agent, & Paxson.

As for Deng, everyone please stop saying that you could see him getting a "max deal". Deng/Gordon/Tyrus are my favorite players and probably in that order until Tyrus explodes in the next few years. But Deng is no superstar and only superstars deserve max deals.

When did Deng become Lebron? Wade? ect. He's definately not there yet and even an overpaid Rashard Lewis as a example does not mean that any team in the league is going to be throwing max deals to Deng. Max deals are something like 5 year $80 million and even if we had all the cap room in the world (which we don't) there is no way, no way, we are going to pay Deng that much. That averages to $16 million per season. Or it probably starts around $13 and escalates up to $20 for the final year.

Deng could very well get a deal that averages around $13 million but he's not getting $16 per. 5*$13 = $65 million. That's $15 million that can be spend on someone else like Tyrus or Thabo in a few years.

Max Deal. You all have to be kidding right?