TalkBulls Forums > Chad Ford: Deng, Gordon, More

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Chisoxfn

Jul 10 2008, 03:20 PM

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Marc (IN): Chad, has there been any word on contract talks with Gordon and Deng?

Chad Ford: Problem is ... without teams with cap room offering them an offer sheet, the Bulls can sit back and let the market dictate the price. I think Deng and Gordon will struggle to get the Bulls to pay what they were willing to pay last fall ... especially Gordon now that it sounds like the Bulls want to keep Kirk Hinrich.

Darryl (Oakland, CA):: After watching the draft my friends and I thought about who would be a bust and we all agreed that Derrick Rose has a very good chance of being one. Bust being realitive to the position he was taken, we think he's got a chance to be good but not great. Was he overhyped just a little bit having not really done that much in college, especially seeing how Jerryd Bayless seemed to be a better shooter and perhaps overall talent?

Chad Ford: I think it is a risk to draft position over talent ... which is what the Bulls did. However, I would've done the same thing here. Rose has a chance to be one of the three best point guards in the league. I think people are reading way too much into the summer league play. And after watching Bayless a lot, I'd be shocked if he's anywhere close to as good of a player as Rose. I think his lack of position and future injury concerns will limit his upside.

Ryan (Philadelphia): With Elton Brand now on the team, and Marreese Speights their top rookie...shouldn't the Sixers trade Reggie Evans for a shooter ASAP?

Chad Ford: They'll try. Not sure there's a big Reggie Evans market right now. They may actually be better off shopping Speights or Jason Smith ... maybe even Louis Williams in a sign and trade. But yes, they need a shooter in the worst way. Would be great if they could find a way to land Ben Gordon.

Jake New York, NY: Do the Knicks really think Chris Duhon is a starting point guard? Is everyone still taking crazy pills at the Garden?

Chad Ford: He's the best they could do for a two year deal. He's not going to dominate or turn the team around, but he's better than what they had. Remember Knicks fans, the goal is be fun the next two years and be way under the cap in 2010.

The most interesting thing I read was that apparently Ford is hearing the Bulls are now thinking about keeping Hinrich. This either means Gordon is on his way out or the Bulls have a very interesting lineup they plan on running. Ie, one that will be very small on the court and just try to out-run teams (since that is the only way you could possibly split the minutes between Sef/Rose/Hinrich/Gordon/Hughes).

One other thing that intrigued me was the idea of a Gordon deal with the Sixers. I highly doubt the Bulls could acquire Igu in a package or some sort of random sign and trade, but, the Bulls did have a lot of interest in Jason Smith (1st Rnd Pick a year ago) and could potentially have some interest in acquiring him (although it gives the Bulls yet another raw big, this is a raw big who is projected to develop into a scorer).

Chicago Bulls Franchise

Jul 10 2008, 03:28 PM

I don't want Kirk playing full time shooting guard. He needs to go. Gordon serves more of a purpose staying where he is, rather than giving Kirk a run at the 2 spot.

ZoomSlowik

Jul 10 2008, 03:46 PM

I can't see them making a move involving Kirk/Gordon until they get a good feel for what the latter wants for an extension (unless they get blown away of course). If Gordon wants significantly more than the $10 mil they offered last year I can easily see them shipping him out, that's just shelling out an awful lot of money given his limitations. The problem is getting less than top-notch talent for him and sliding Kirk over their is less than ideal as well, that's a major hit to the offense and Kirk just isn't a strong enough scorer to be a full-time 2. The right answer is probably to find a way to unload Hughes to open up more PT, but that won't be easy.

They've got a tough issue to sort out with their logjam in the backcourt, and if they don't manage to fix it things could be tough again this year. No one in that backcourt is really a complete player right now.

Chisoxfn

Jul 11 2008, 01:14 PM

Mark Stein is hearing the same thing:

QUOTE

Marc Stein is on ESPN this morning (they are replaying it all morning) saying Bulls are looking to keep Kirk, sign and trade Ben Gordon and retain Luol Deng as long as he does not overprice himself.

The question is who would be interested in a sign and trade involving Gordon. Could the Bulls put together a package involving Gordon and Noah for Emeka Okafor (I'd be very very interested in such a deal).

GreatScott82

Jul 11 2008, 03:29 PM

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Jul 11 2008, 02:14 PM)

Mark Stein is hearing the same thing:

The question is who would be interested in a sign and trade involving Gordon. Could the Bulls put together a package involving Gordon and Noah for Emeka Okafor (I'd be very very interested in such a deal).

I'd be very much okay with that deal. Re-signing Deng to me is a no brainer. Its just a matter of what who to keep, Hinrich or Gordon? Lets not forget that we have Hughes on the team also. Im smelling another Tim Thomas type situation...

DutheDoduhon21

Jul 11 2008, 04:25 PM

i would much rather keep gordon and trade hinrich, BG just suits rose alot better. if we could get okafor somehow i would definently like that. weather it be hinrich, hughes(would trade him in a second), noah, gooden or nocioni whatever it takes.

Chicago Bulls Franchise

Jul 11 2008, 05:23 PM

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Jul 11 2008, 02:14 PM)

Okafor would be awesome! He's a double double guy and a defensive presence in the middle.

SoxFan1

Jul 11 2008, 07:52 PM

Paxson is going to fish things up or not make any impact moves and we all know it.

eddog2

Jul 11 2008, 10:25 PM

I'd say trade Kirk, Gooden, Noah and a future 1st or 2nd round pick (we probably don't have any more 2nd's left) for Okafor, Felton, & May. Not sure if the Bobcats would bite on that but I think an Augustin/Kirk/Richardson rotation at the guards would be pretty good since they both can hit the outside shot and DJ can run the break.

They get Gooden's expiring contract or keep him so that they finally have a young PF who stays healthy and produces. They likely get a future 1st and get to rid themselves of Felton before his contract year where he'd probably walk b/c they were going in a new direction with DJ Augustin.

The Bulls use Felton as a backup and he makes a hell of a backup. May comes back from injury and actually plays a full year and shows why he was drafted so high and if not Tyrus plays next to Okafor as the starting 4. I've always been a huge fan of May's. He's had horrible injury problems since coming in the league but when he plays he's very effective as a post scorer and he's a decent FT shooter. If healthy he could be a better post player than Gooden.

eddog2

Jul 13 2008, 11:54 AM

.ESPN Article

"The Clips have a variety of options to consider with $12 million-plus in salary-cap space and figure they'll need up to a week to plot their course, although they did meet face-to-face with Atlanta Hawks restricted free agent Josh Smith in L.A. on the same day Brand was introduced as the newest member of the Philadelphia 76ers.

The most likely scenario, I'm told, is still signing one of the top "restricteds" (as the GMs and agents like to call them) to an offer sheet. According to NBA front-office sources, L.A. has expanded its list of restricted candidates beyond Smith and Charlotte's Emeka Okafor to Chicago's Luol Deng and, yes, Philadelphia's Andre Iguodala.Not totally sure yet how to interpret this one, but sources say that Bulls chairman Jerry Reinsdorf is personally handling contract negotiations with Deng and his new agent (Jason Levien) after Reinsdorf informed Bulls GM John Paxson that he wanted to directly negotiate with the Deng camp along with Bulls director of player personnel Gar Forman.

Deng, meanwhile, is another interesting case because of his versatility. If the Clippers are ready to run, with a willing trio of pace-pushers (Baron Davis, Al Thornton and Eric Gordon) surrounding Kaman, Deng makes good sense.

Bulls tidbits are otherwise scarce so far beyond what we covered recently about Deng's fellow restricted free agent Ben Gordon and Kirk Hinrich. While it is widely presumed that Chicago will soon trade Hinrich after drafting Derrick Rose with the No. 1 overall pick, sources maintain that there is some sentiment in the Bulls organization to keep Hinrich -- a Reinsdorf favorite -- and play him at shooting guard alongside Rose while banking on getting something good for Gordon in a sign-and-trade."

Why does Jerry keep getting involved? If I were Paxson I would quit. He obviously doesn't let Paxson operate as a true GM. I bet he's being cheap again. All I know is he better not let Deng walk to some team like the Clippers b/c they offer too much.

Big Chief Triangle

Jul 13 2008, 09:36 PM

I think it would be crazy to trade Gordon. I understand he's an undersized, one-way player, but above all those things he's been the Bulls most consistent scorer by a wide, wide margin ever since he put on the uniform. Trade him, and what exactly do you have?

Chisoxfn

Jul 13 2008, 09:46 PM

Gordon is a tremendous 6th man. The problem is he wants to be paid as a core player. Again, this wouldn't be an issue if the Bulls already had there "super-star" on the roster and they may finally have that in Rose but they are still looking for one more "star" type player. I think Deng/Sef will be very good players in this league (neither will be "stars" though) so the key is moving Gordon to a team if you think you can get another good player or someone that could develop into a star (package deal).

Interesting to see how Reinsdorf is getting very involved in the proccess surrounding Deng. Makes me think he'll be signing a long-term extension with Gordon either doing a one year deal or getting dealt. I think Gordon staying is a sign that the Bulls really really think Rose is ready to kick ass this year (as it makes Hinrich expendable), but if Gordon goes than it means they are moving him to basically assure that they can ease Rose into things (by keeping Hinrich who would start at the 2 and rotate as a backup PG (Sef would get the remaining minutes at the 2).

SoxFan1

Jul 13 2008, 10:41 PM

QUOTE (Big Chief Triangle @ Jul 13 2008, 10:36 PM)

Gordon and "consistent" don't belong in the same sentence.

Chicago Bulls Franchise

Jul 13 2008, 10:54 PM

Any time I hear "Jerry" and "Negotiating" in the same sentence, I'm not confident.

Big Chief Triangle

Jul 13 2008, 11:38 PM

QUOTE (SoxFan1 @ Jul 13 2008, 11:41 PM)

Gordon and "consistent" don't belong in the same sentence.

The point is, he's led the Bulls in scoring ever since he came into the league, while the #2 and #3 scorers behind him have depended on who felt like showing up that night. Getting rid of your best scorer for anything other than another potential #1 scorer would be a step back.

ZoomSlowik

Jul 14 2008, 09:15 AM

QUOTE (Big Chief Triangle @ Jul 14 2008, 12:38 AM)

Depends on the type of player you get. Gordon can shoot, but he doesn't do a whole lot else, so if you can find someone else at the position that is a reasonably good scorer that can be more effective on the drive, get a few more free throws (for a jumpshooter those are decent attempt numbers, but that is a qualified statement) and/or be an upgrade on defense you could end up in better shape even if they're not quite as explosive a shooter (of course that guy isn't on the roster right now). He is one of the best shooters in the league, but he's also so reliant on that shot that it's not uncommon for him to have off-nights that lead to low production and/or highly inefficient shooting nights. That can work as your #2 or #3, but you really want more consistency from your leading scorer. Granted Deng is in a similar spot as a scorer, but he's also a more well-rounded player and doesn't seem to be as unreasonable about his contract.

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