Ben Gordon wants respect, i.e. money Options

[TeaLeafReaderII]

The Journal News reports on Ben Gordon wanting a new contract:


Gordon, 24, is about to embark on the final year of the four-year rookie contract he signed with the Bulls in 2004 after getting drafted out of Connecticut.

"The Bulls have an opportunity to extend my contract with them this summer," Gordon said yesterday. "So I’m hoping something gets done and I won’t have to wait another year to see what’s going to happen. I’ve done everything possible I could have done to help my team get to the playoffs, and I think it’s up to them right now to see if they want to make a long-term commitment."

"If you look at other players around the league that are doing things similar to what I’ve done in my past year and throughout my career, I just want to get that equal respect," said Gordon, who’ll become a restricted free agent after the upcoming season if he fails to sign an extension. "And that’s all it’s really about. The money I make is going to be more than I’ve ever made, so it really just boils down to getting your just due and your respect."

[Balta1701-B]

Personally, I'll add that while this team might have been better in 06-07 with Curry and Chandler than with Wallace, TT, Brown and a draft pick, I am pretty convinced that as constructed, that team just wasn't going to be good enough...not with those 2 in the middle. I think that both starting this year and in the long term, we will be better, and a lot better, with what we've built.

[Steve9347]

Personally, I'll add that while this team might have been better in 06-07 with Curry and Chandler than with Wallace, TT, Brown and a draft pick, I am pretty convinced that as constructed, that team just wasn't going to be good enough...not with those 2 in the middle. I think that both starting this year and in the long term, we will be better, and a lot better, with what we've built.

The Bulls will be good this year... will they win a championship? No. The next three years of Ben Wallace are going to get painful...

[Balta1701-B]

The Bulls will be good this year... will they win a championship? No. The next three years of Ben Wallace are going to get painful...

The last year I understand...but I think that this year Ben may well be quite a bit better than last given the added depth to this team, the added strength to the front court, and the fact that he's played with most of the key guys for a season already and there won't be an adaptation time.

And on top of that...I still really like having a couple of grizzly vets on this team. Don't underestimate the value of having a guy like that who can be a leader and sometimes even be the guy who can stand up to the coach if necessary. I for one don't think it's a coincidence that our season last year seemed to magically turn around right after the headband incident.

[TeaLeafReaderII]

The last year I understand...but I think that this year Ben may well be quite a bit better than last given the added depth to this team, the added strength to the front court, and the fact that he's played with most of the key guys for a season already and there won't be an adaptation time.

And on top of that...I still really like having a couple of grizzly vets on this team. Don't underestimate the value of having a guy like that who can be a leader and sometimes even be the guy who can stand up to the coach if necessary. I for one don't think it's a coincidence that our season last year seemed to magically turn around right after the headband incident.

And the Cubs are 2 1/2 ahead in their division because Lou Pinella decided to kick some dirt on an umpire back in June