Hoopsworld is reporting that there has been no movement at all on the Ben Gordon front. The Bulls will start training camp next week, so unless Gordon pulls an Anderson Varejao, there will be certainty on the Ben Gordon situation by early next week.

The options for Gordon seem to have dwindled down to accepting the Bulls offer, which is worth approximately $58.5 million if we are to believe that the Bulls are offering right up to the luxury tax, or for Gordon to accept the Bulls qualifying offer, which is worth $6.4 million.

It is widely believed among people around the NBA that Ben Gordon will take the qualifying offer.

Some things seem to need clarification about the qualifying offer. The qualifying offer is not a divorce. Just because Gordon is not around longterm does not mean that the Bulls will refuse to play him, or cut his minutes drastically. At the end of the day, he is still our best guard, and very likely our best player.

Listening to Vinny Del Negro talk about the Ben Gordon situation a month or so ago, you get the vibe that the Bulls want Gordon on the qualifying offer. There are quite a few reasons why this might be. First off, they would get a chance to see how Rose and Gordon mesh together. Secondly, this could give Paxson the excuse that he actually, literally, cannot trade Gordon, for trading Hinrich sometime during the season, and that the Bulls plan on locking up Gordon at the end of the season. Third, the Bulls may be looking to use Gordon, who will be looking to play the best ball of his career to ensure that large contract, as the catalyst for a turnaround from last year’s disappointing season.

Regardless of what offer Gordon accepts, there will be a #7 Ben Gordon jersey waiting for him at training camp, and I fully expect him to wear it as the Bulls starting shooting guard on opening night against Scott Skiles and the Milwaukee Bucks.