Ben Gordon addressed the media on September 29, 2008 as part of the Chicago Bulls’ media day. Gordon was obviously in a dejected state, answering questions with sadness and anger, before catching himself, and calming back down. Gordon also seem disappointed in the way that fans have been judging him.

Reporter:

Are you gonna practice tomorrow?

Ben Gordon:

Not tomorrow, I’m gonna wait to Wednesday, but I’ll be here. I’ll be there watching. Just gonna wait until my decision on Wednesday. I’m coming to practice.

Reporter:

Are you concerned with the new offense, the new coaching system, that maybe missing that first practice might be a problem or hindrance?

Ben Gordon:

Umm, no. I mean, not really. No.

Reporter:

Are you disappointed that something hasn’t been worked out by now?

Ben Gordon:

Yeah.

Reporter:

Can you just elaborate how disappointed are you. Did you think this would get done quickly?

Ben Gordon:

Yeah, I thought it would be done by now, so that’s the only reason I’m disappointed that it lasted all the way until training camp.

Reporter:

Is there any chance you’re gonna take the offer from the Bulls instead of the qualifying offer?

Ben Gordon:

Umm no. I really don’t want to discuss it. Right now, all I can tell you guys is I’m waiting until Wednesday before I make my decision.

Reporter:

If you do play this year on the qualifying offer, do the Bulls have any chance to re-sign you next summer as an unrestricted free agent.

Ben Gordon:

I don’t know. I don’t know.

Reporter:
That’s, that’s, that’s your decision, you would be an unrestricted free agent, so…

Ben Gordon:

Ask me in a year from now.

Reporter:

When you do come back there’s a lot of bodies in the backcourt, how do you think that’s going to workout with all the guys that can play serious minutes?

Ben Gordon:

It’s a mystery. I’ve been trying to figure that out the whole time. I guess the only thing you can do is wait and see.

Reporter:

If you signed a long term deal they’d be free to clear out that log jam. If you signed the qualifying offer, they might be reluctant, they might just keep everyone all year.

Ben Gordon:

I don’t know. I don’t know. I don’t know if that makes sense. That doesn’t make senses to me. You could have done a deal with me, and if you wanted to move somebody, move somebody. I don’t think it had to go in that kind of order.

Reporter:

Why do you think a deal didn’t get done? I mean obviously besides the difference in numbers. Why do you think a deal didn’t get done?

Ben Gordon:

I think there’s a lot of reasons. I don’t know why definitively, but it just didn’t happen.

Reporter:

There are some people who have speculated that if you are playing on the one year qualifying offer you might be someone who might rock the boat a little bit, or pout, or something like that. Does that offend you?

Ben Gordon:

Why would anyone get that impression?

Reporter:

I’m just asking you. Would that offend you if people speculate that’s how you would act?

Ben Gordon:

No, not really, because something I’ve grown to learn in the NBA is you can’t really control what other people think. All I can do is continue to be professional, that’s why I’m here, that’s why I’ll be there with my teammates tomorrow, and in practice, even if I’m not gonna practice. The people who really understand, they’ll see what kind of person I am, and I’ll let whoever wants to judge, judge.

Reporter:

Can you be a contributing part of the team even if you take the qualifying offer?

Ben Gordon:

Yeah. I’m gonna be part of the team. Whatever happens, if I’m here, that’s going to be what I’m committed to.

John Paxson addressed the media on September 29th, 2008 as part of the Bulls’ media day. He took the time to discuss the Ben Gordon negotiations with the press.

John Paxson:

Well as of right now, we’ve talked to Raymond Brothers again today. We’re still seeing if there is a way to come to some resolution, so, I will be talking to Raymond after I get out of here. It’s going to be one thing or the other. Ben has until Wednesday to sign the qualifying offer, so he has that option, and until then we can talk and try to see if there is any common ground. It’s still is where it’s been all summer, right now. We’ll see.

Like I said the other day, as of right now, we have anticipated that Ben would sign the qualifying offer. And with that said, he is still a very valuable member of our team. My opinion, it’s just always hard when you have a player that you like as much as I like Ben, and we as an organization like Ben. When it comes to negotiating a deal, you have a difference of opinion, is what it’s come down to money wise. But it doesn’t, in my opinion doesn’t lessen his value to us and us trying to win basketball games.

Iif that is the route he ultimately goes comes Wednesday he will be an unrestricted free agent next year, and a lot of guys in this league become unrestricted free agents at sometime of their career. I don’t want this to be a situation where anyone thinks we don’t value Ben, because we do, and if he’s on our team, we hope he has a great year and helps us win games.

Reporter:

Are you talking about lesser year deals, maybe not 6 but 3?

John Paxson:

I’m not going to go into any details of the conversations. Neither side has made much progress from their end. Ben’s in a tough position because the player is the guy, he would like to get something done. He’s got two sides negotiating. We’ll see where it goes. One way or another, it’s pretty obvious that Ben’s going to be part of our team this year. Like I’ve said the last few days we’ve got to find a way to make that work, both sides. Myself, Vinny, and the players, and Ben himself. We have to find a way to make it work.

This is the first Dabullz.com power rankings for the 2008-2009 NBA season. Dabullz’s power rankings are based on a statistical formula that incorporates offense, defense, regular season performance, and recent playoff performance. Off-season transactions have been accounted for. These power rankings should be looked at as the likelihood that each team wins the championship.

So here are the first Dabullz power rankings for the 2008-2009 season. Expect the rankings to change once we begin taking in statistics for the current season.

1. Boston Celtics
2. Detroit Pistons
3. San Antonio Spurs
4. Utah Jazz
5. Los Angeles Lakers
6. Houston Rockets
7. New Orleans Hornets
8. Orlando Magic
9. Cleveland Cavs
10. Phoenix Suns
11. Dallas Mavericks
12. Denver Nuggets
13. Philadelphia 76ers
14. Portland Trailblazers
15. Chicago Bulls
16. Washington Wizards
17. Toronto Raptors
18. Golden St. Warriors
19. Atlanta Hawks
20. Indiana Pacers
21. Sacramento Kings
22. New Jersey Nets
23. Charlotte Bobcats
24. Milwaukee Bucks
25. Los Angeles Clippers
26. Miami Heat
27. Memphis Grizzlies
28. Oklahoma City Thunder
29. New York Knicks
30. Minnesota Timberwolves

Some interesting notes here:

There is very little difference between the Celtics and Pistons at the top. The Celtics just barely edged the Pistons out for the top spot in our rankings.

There is also very little separating the Denver Nuggets, Philadelphia 76ers, Portland Trailblazers, Chicago Bulls, and Washington Wizards. The Raptors aren’t lagging too far behind that bunch as well.

Even with accounting for Michael Beasley and accounting for Wade to be a little bit more healthy, and quite a bit more effective, the Heat are still towards the bottom. The Heat were so poor last year, that the current model predicts them to improve very little. Once the season starts, what the Heat did last year will have very little impact on their rankings.

The next Dabullz power ranking will be released following the first week of NBA regular season play.

Doug Thonus is giving away two free tickets to a Chicago Bulls game sometime this season as part of a contest. The contest is to write a review on the iPod music store about his podcast, the Bulls Beat. Whoever can write the best review within the next 3 weeks will win 2 free tickets to a 2008-2009 Chicago Bulls game. After you write your review, you will have to leave a message on Thonus’ website in the Contact Us section to let him know which review is yours.

You can visit Thonus’ website here.

Good Luck!

Victor Bellan is reporting that Ben Gordon has verbally agreed with the Bulls to sign the qualifying offer. Bellan expects now that the Bulls have cost certainty, that they may add a veteran big man to the roster in the coming weeks, possibly former Bull, Michael Ruffin.

Gordon confirmed to K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune Sunday, that he would show up for media day and the start of training camp.

This puts closure on a negotiation process that included Gordon reportedly getting offers from two Russian teams and a Greek team (CSKA Moscow shot down the Gordon rumor), flirtations from Dwyane Wade, and Ben Gordon saying that he wants to be a New York Knick.

This is the second straight summer that the Bulls and Gordon have failed to agree to a long-term deal. Gordon’s qualifying offer is worth $6.4 million, which is $1.4 million less than the first year deal on the 6 year $59 million contract that the Bulls were reportedly offering.

The Bulls will now be at risk of losing Gordon for nothing next summer, as Gordon becomes an unrestricted free agent.. They could try to trade him this season, but the qualifying offer comes with a no trade clause, and Gordon has no incentive to agree to any trades. The Miami Heat, who tried to trade for Gordon this summer and the Oklahoma Thunder seem to be two teams that could make a run at Gordon next summer.

Update: Multiple reports have come out stating that the Bulls are in negotiations with Ben Gordon on his contract extension. It looks like a long-term extension might get done after all. Up until this point the Bulls have not held any real negotiations, the two sides were just too far apart for any negotiations to take place.

This means that one of the sides is wavering. I would venture to guess that it is the Bulls side that is wavering. They likely saw the negative fan reaction that came out over having Ben Gordon on the qualifying offer and are beginning to take this more seriously as to avoid a repeat of last year. It is also possible that the Bulls are liking what they are seeing out of guys like Tyrus Thomas and Drew Gooden, and can now justify going into the luxury tax because it will be for a team that they see can be a winner.

Typically, negotiations don’t move until a deadline is set and approaching. So it is no surprise that no real negotiations have taken place up until this point. If the Bulls offer Ben Gordon Monta Ellis money, I really think that will be enough to sign him. The Bulls then will have the rest of the season to find a way to get under the luxury tax.

We will continue to update you as more news comes along.

Ben Gordon spoke with the media today to talk about his contract situation. The Bulls start practice on Tuesday, but Gordon has until Wednesday to accept the Bull qualifying offer.

Here is what Gordon had to say about his contract situation:

“We’ve been talking here and there, but from where I stand, I think both sides are far apart. It is what it is. I can’t say I’m discouraged or surprised.

On Europe:

“That’s not an option because I would still be a restricted free agent. Other than that, I’m not ruling anything out.”

On whether he still wants to finish his career with the Bulls:

“I really don’t have any comment on that. I just want to remain professional.”

John Paxson has said that he has been pleased with Ben’s commitment to working hard during the off season. Gordon, despite his contract uncertainty, still came into the Berto Center at night for his daily workouts.

There should be some clarity on the Ben Gordon situation within the next 72 hours. All signs point to Gordon taking the qualifying offer, unless the Bulls up their offer at the last minute.

Source: Chicago Suntimes

John Paxson joined Chuck Swirsky for an interview on Bulls.com, to discuss the upcoming season.

Paxson is hoping for the team to have a real spirited and intense training camp. There are a lot of question marks over who will be the starters and who will be coming off the bench in their rotation. He sees this as an exciting time for the franchise with a new coach, the first pick in the draft, and a team full of prideful players who want to get back to winning after a 33 win season.

Paxson wants to push the pace more so than in the past, yet he also doesn’t want to give up the integrity of the defensive end of the floor. He feels that you need to defend and rebound in order to run the ball. They are going to throw Derrick Rose into the fire right away and let him get his feet wet while learning on the job. he wants to see the group get back to the way they played a couple of years ago in terms of passion and competitiveness. He thinks that if they achieve this early on, everything else will take care of itself.

The team also needs to find some leadership. Paxson thinks that the guys who have been here a long time need to step into these roles and hold their teammates accountable. He thinks that there is a misconception that leaders have to be vocal. Paxson thinks that leaders have to approach the game a certain way and be professional in everything that they do. Paxson thinks that leaders in the NBA make themselves responsible for winning and losing.

Paxson is finding the Ben Gordon situation very frustrating, since they went through the same exact thing last year. He said that there haven’t been any real negotiations because the sides have been so far apart financially. He feels that the offer that they put on the table is really, really fair. The offer the Bulls are making Ben is how much the market dictates his value as. The offer is not a reflection of what they think of as Ben as a person or a player. Paxson says that he has a lot of respect for Ben, as Ben has always been a professional, carrying himself the right way, and has already worked really hard on his game. Paxson expects Gordon to end up on the qualifying offer. He thinks that the team will have to sit down with Gordon to try to eliminate those bad feelings that can develop during this sort of thing, so they can make this work going forward.

The Drew Gooden trade is what Paxson labels as a move that will be sort of like a new acquisition for this year. He wants to see Tyrus Thomas and Thabo Sefolosha in some type of significant role so they can see what they have in both players.

You can listen to this interview at Bulls.com