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.

Following the Luol Deng press conference, John Paxson met with the press to discuss the Ben Gordon signing. Here is a transcript of that meeting.

John Paxson: I’d like to be sitting up here with Ben shortly. If at all possible. But, there’s things to work through, just like there was things to work through in this type of deal with Luol, there are things to work through with Ben to get him signed. It always takes two sides to get a deal done. Both sides have to be comfortable with it or maybe a little bit uncomfortable with it to get the right deal, but in my opinion, this doesn’t have any bearing on what we’re doing with Ben. This one’s completed, and now we’ve been talking to Ben’s representatives throughout the whole process. I’m sure we will talk a little bit stronger now.

Reporter: With this deal done, and some of the other deals done with restricted free agents. For Ben Gordon, is the market sort of established now?

John Paxson: I think there’s a lot of things that come in determining what the market is. Position certainly plays a part in it. You see that with big guys. Luol is a legitimate three man; size, length, skill. Ben is a two guard and there’s differences, you can’t get around those. There’s still guys out there. Iguodala is out there. There’s still tings, but like I said what for me, it really comes back to, is do both sides want to get a deal done? We certainly do. I know Ben and his representatives, Raymond Brothers, want to get a deal done too. But right now, there are differences with how we’re looking at it. But we have time. No deadlines out there looming, we need to continue to work at it, keep it proffessional, keep it moving in the right direction. No one’s dug their heels in and that’s a good thing. So we will continue to talk about it.

K.C. Johnson: Even though they play different positions, how much did the Ellis, Biedrins, and Okafor signings play a part maybe in giving shape into the Deng deal.

John Paxson: Not that much to be honest with you. We all look at what other guys are signing for, but I think our approach all along has been Luol’s value to us. I do think that when you draft a young player, and Lu was 19 when we drafted him, and you invest a lot of time and energy into that player, it becomes important, maybe a little more important than how other teams view it. But we feel the same way about Ben Gordon. The other deals, I know in the broad picture you look at those things establishing the market, but maybe they do, maybe they don’t. We were definitely focused in doing the right thing, getting the right deal done for both sides.

Reporter: Do you feel a sense of urgency with Gordon now that it kind of determines what you do otherwise?

John Paxson: All of us would like to walk out of here today and have both of them done, but it doesn’t always work that way. None of us feel an urgency, we would like to get it done. We would like it to be a deal that’s good for Ben, good for us, and that’s ongoing.

Today, the Bulls held a press conference to announce the resigning of their restricted free agent, Luol Deng. Here is a transcript of this press conference.

John Paxson: We’re each going to talk, just for a second. First of all, from our organizational stand point, I would like to thank Luol’s agent, Jason Levien, who I thought was tremendous this whole process. Proffessional, he came into this wanting to do a deal, which made this whole thing a really workable situation. From our end, Gar Forman, who did the talking with Jason through the whole process. Gar did a terrific job as well. It always takes two parties to come to an agreement, and both sides wanted to have done that. Obviously, incredibly happy that we were able to get Luol signed. Six year deal and a type of thing that gives him security, gives us certainty in the direction, we are going to go here in the future. He has been an integral part of our organization for the four years we had. When we drafted him, we always felt so good about him as a player and a person, that getting this done and getting him settled, was obviously a priority for us. So, just very very happy that we got it done…got it done before he heads off to Great Britain and plays. Just a good day for the Bulls, and we’re happy, and congratulate you on getting your deal. Vinny, do you want to say something?

Vinny Del Negro: No, I couldn’t be happier. Just, reiterate what Pax said. Great day for the Bulls. Luol is not only a terrific player, but a great person. I think he has a lot of room for improvement and he’s going to be a big cornerstone for what we do and what this franchise does for a long time. I just feel great about it. He’s a hardworker, he’s a great guy, and with those combinations, obviously I think great things are going to happen for him and the organization. He’ts going to be here a long time. I feel great about that. The big thing is, I know he’s a worker, he wants to improve, we’re going to do whatever we can to put him in the best situation possible to help this team be successful, and I just couldn’t be happier for him as a person. I’m just excited to have him around here. It’s great.

Luol Deng: I want to start off by thanking a lot of people. I want to thank a lot of people, Jerry Reinsdorf, Gar Forman, Pax, first of all for drafting me and bringing me here to the city of Chicago, that I love since I’ve been here. Just believing in me and trusting in me, and giving me this opportunity. I also want to thank my camp for coming to an agreement or a decision with the organization. It’s something we wanted and I’m very happy that it happened. I definitely want to thank my family, my family and friends, for 21 years it has been nothing but love. We have been through a lot together, and today’s a very special day for all of us.

I’m very excited about coach being here. Since our first meeting, we sat down and coach told me what he sees in me, what I could do, and how we can get better as a team. Right away, I was very excited and I was hoping that we would get this done as soon as possible and we did. You know, this brings a lot of responsibility. It’s a big day and a big responsibility. It’s the responsibility that I’m looking forward to on the court and off the court. I take basketball very seriously, and it’s something I look forward to, and I look forward to putting the team on my shoulders. Getting back to our new era, the great days of basketball, getting the team back to where we need to be.

I also have big responsiblities off the court. My community commitment is also something I take very seriously. With my community work here in Chicago and all around the world, it brings mroe responsibilities, and that’s something I’m excited about and look forward to doing. You know, when we had our first meeting, and we sat down, and I was there with Jason, and we sat there with coach, Paxson, Gar, and Jerry Resindorf, we talked about my commitment and my community work and I told Jerrry how much it meant to me. That was something that meant a lot to him too. I knew that he was excited about how I felt about that. When we walked with Jason, I said that hopefully if we come to an agreement, I could make the world a better place, and that is something I look forward to.

K.C. Johnson: Luol, congratulations. You talk about how Vinny, at the first meeting, talked about ways he invisions using you. Can you share with us some of those thoughts?

Luol Deng: I think the first thing we really focused on was having the chemistry. Really getting to know each other better. The first thing I got right away, was how great of a communicator coach was. He was already telling me stuff from watching me play that I didn’t talk to anybody about. He told me positions on the court where he sees me being successful and what I can do to better my game. I look forward, I like being taught, and I look forward to it.

Reporter: Lu, everyone is hoping that last year was an aberation. Now that you are a cornerstone for years to come, are you hopeful and optimistic that you guys will get back to at least where you guys were 2 years ago and a lot further?

Luol Deng: Definitely, last year was tough. I think, just the way I am, I’m excited for the season. I know that all my teammates are. What we went through last year, something we don’t want to go through. I know how my teammates are, guys are already in here working hard, trying to turn it around. With coach being here and the new coaching staff, everyone is excited and we look forward to playing together with the new coaching staff and also being back on the court and changing things.

Reporter: Lu, looking back, did your contract situation last year weigh on your mind a little bit, and how are things going to be different this year now that you know you’re going to be here for awhile?

Luol Deng: No, everybody talked last year about the contract all year. It was all about timing. Me and my agent made the decision at the time, that we didn’t sign. It was all just a gut feeling at the time. Once I made that decision, it was all behind and we just played basketball. I think there was a lot of things last year that didn’t go right. That made it definitely a tougher year, now that we’ve been through that year, try not to go through that again and learn from it.

Reporter: Luol, congratulations on the new deal. How much do you think about becoming more of a vocal leader. In many cases, if you are the highest paid player, people look to you to be the best player, but also leadership. How are you going to improve that part of your game?

Luol Deng: That’s something me and coach spoke about also. Being a leader, being more vocal. Last year was my first year being a captain and I tried at times. I tried to be the best leader I can, but I know that I’m learning, being a better leader. I feel more comfortable now, being a leader, and being a year older. I think the older I get the better leader I will become. It’s something I’m definitely looking forward to. I don’t mind leading, leading the guys on and off the court, whether it’s being vocal or working hard, it’s something I want to do.

K.C. Johnson: Hey Lu, after Tyson and Kirk signed their deals here, they both talked about the pressure that signing a bigger contract brings. Do you think a bigger contract equates to more pressure, and if so, how do you plan on dealing with that?

Luol Deng: I don’t want to call it pressure. You definitely have responsibilities. I always work hard, I do what I’m supposed to do, I’m committed to being a great player and I see myself as being a great player in this league. Keep working hard, work with my coaching staff and my teammates and getting there. That’s really what I have to focus on.

Mike McGraw: Have you got to know Derrick Rose at all?

Luol Deng: I met Derrick a couple of times. I came, watched practices a couple of times. I’m very excited. I watched Derrick in college. When we got the first pick, I came, tried to watch the guys work out, see him play, and when we drafted him I was really excited. I’m looking forward to playing with Derrick. Great kid off the court. Just seeing him play, I’m already seeing him working hard and staying focused. I already know he’s a hardworker. He’s going to be an exciting player to watch and he’s going to make me and our team a better team. We’re going to see what he can do, but I’m excited.

Transcript of the Bulls July 2nd, 2008 Press Conference to welcome the number one overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, Derrick Rose, into the Chicago Bulls family.

John Paxson: We had the draft Thursday night and we felt very fortunate to get the first pick, and be able to bring Derrick back to Chicago and into the Bulls organization, hopefully for a very, very long time. We’re obviously excited, as the weekends gone on and as we got through the Sox and Cubs series, which is why we waited until today. As this decision, and this opportunity for us and Derrick sinks in even more, I think we’re even more thrilled about it. I said a lot of things on Thursday night that you guys asked me, so I’m going to turn it over to Derrick, but the entire Bulls organization welcomed Derrick into the Bulls family. Hopefully it’s going to be a terrific ride for a long long time.

Derrick Rose: I want to thank you all, for all coming out, and this is a dream come true to be a Chicago Bull, and I’m happy that the Bulls picked me, and thats about..

John Paxson [interrupting Derrick]: You better be.

Derrick Rose [laughing]: And thats about it.

John Paxson: Do you have some questions?

Reporter: Yes Derrick, perhaps the most proudest people in this city are the people at Beasley academic center. What influence did Coach Green and the rest of the people over there have in your progress?

Derrick Rose: Umm, Beasley, it was really like turning me like into a man really, like education, like what’s the biggest thing about Mr. Green, he always like preached education to me, so he didn’t really meant like what I did on the court, or anything like that, it was just an education, but when I got on the court, he made sure he pushed me, like umm ballhandling drills and all that stuff, he made sure I was the best at what I was doing.

Reporter [too quiet to hear]

Derrick Rose: Oh, it was a lot of distractions. Like kids really like, umm wanted me to go out a lot. When your in high school and college, they want you to go out a lot. Of course girls.

John Paxson [amidst laughter]: That’s not going to change. We’ll keep an eye on him.

Derrick Rose: Just people period, just coming up to me and all that stuff. But I just have to get used to it. I want to thank my family for putting me in this little shelter or whatever, not letting people get close to me, and just letting me be a kid.

Tom Powell: Tom Powell, from WREG in Memphis. How did Coach Cal prepare you for today.

Derrick Rose: Oh, Coach Cal. Umm, he just wanted me to be perfect. He wanted all of us on the team to be perfect. Everything we did, if it wasn’t perfect he would make us do it over. Like coming into the gym, you could never go 90% he wanted you to go like 110%, 120, like until you passed out. We used to fuss at him a lot, like, “man we need a break” and stuff like that, but I guess he knew what we were capable of doing, and we were glad that he was on us like that.

Mike McGraw: Derrick, Mike McGraw, the Daily Herald. What was your experience like growing up as a Chicago sports fan. Did you ever go to any games, were you able to watch Bulls much. How did that go.

Derrick Rose: I never went to a game when I was a little kid, but I just remember like, when they were playing Utah or something like that, everytime Jordan got the ball in his hands, my older brother Wayne, Dwyane always used to turn off the TV, and everyone got mad at him for doing that. You probably have to ask him that.

Reporter: What have these last couple days been like for you? And what have you done since the draft?

Derrick Rose: It’s been exhausting. Going out with my family after the draft, and my agency HS, meeting new people, then coming home, going to the White Sox game to throw out the first pitch, it’s overwhelming, but you get exhausted like when the time comes. For the last couple of days I’ve just been sleeping and hanging out with my family.

David Shuster: Shuster from WSCR, top to bottom this organization is so happy to have you part of this now. Your family and friends are proud of you beyond belief. The city is so excited to have you back home, a native son. How honored are you to be in this position you’re currently in?

Derrick Rose: I’m truly blessed, like everything has just been a dream come true I’ll say. My entire life has been like a dream. In High School I did great. Like my past has been great. This is just to top it off, I’m playing the highest, competition of basketball, and it’s in my hometown. I really can’t believe it right now.

Paula Farris: Derrick, Paula Farris from NBC 5, I see Tyrus Thomas is here today. Which Bulls have really reached out to you since the draft?

Derrick Rose: Tyrus, I’ve talked to him about some things. Joakim, and Ben Gordon.

Reporter: What advice did they give you?

Derrick Rose: It’s just some regular stuff, just asking them some stuff about the team already. Just be humble and stay focused.

John Jackson: Derrick, hi, John Jackson from the Chicago Suntimes. When all this fanfare is over, and you get down to business, what is the main thing you want to focus on this summer to get you prepared for training camp.

Derrick Rose: I say working out hard, listening, and listening to all the veteran players on this team, and of course coach. And just sucking it in, and just learning, that is my biggest key this summer, just learning from everyone.

K.C. Johnson: Hey Derrick, K.C. Johnson from the Chicago Tribune, following up on that, what plans do you have for summer league and have John and Vinny giving you any idea on how much you might be playing.

Derrick Rose: Oh, no we never talked about it.

John Paxson: Do you wanna know. He’s obviously going to be playing in summer league with several of our guys. He will get in Deerfield today, and start practicing Thursday night. Depending on what kind of condition he is in, we plan on playing him a lot. We’ve got several young guys who are going to be in camp, in summer league, so our idea is to get them playing time, to get them acclimated, Derrick will be playing, Tyrus will play a couple of games for us, Joakim, Aaron Gray, Demetris Nichols those guys are going to be playing. It will be good for Vinny to get on the floor with everybody and start teaching, implementing some of the things he wants to do for the regular season.

Reporter: As a young 19 year old coming into the league do you feel any pressure coming in to be the leader of this Chicago Bulls team, and the second part of this question is, do you feel a little more comfortable having a rookie coach also?

Derrick Rose: I don’t feel no pressure. I want pressure really, when you’ve got pressure that lets you know you’re doing something right, if your not, like Coach Cal always say, if your not doing something right if you don’t have pressure. I think I can lead the team, of course with the veterans helping me, I have to listen to them, pay attention them what they do by detail. And me having a rookie coach doesn’t really matter. I’m coming in as a rookie, it’s not like I’m a veteran and had another coach before him. So it’s a learning process for both of us, and hopefulyl the whole team, but I think we will be okay.

Mitch Robinson: Mitch Robinson, Moutpiece Sports. You were on the national spotlight with Memphis, what have you heard or what do you know about the media coverage the way that it will be for you now as the number one pick playing in Chicago.

Derrick Rose: I heard it’s going to be huge. It’s going to be huge. Everyone’s going to be looking, but that’s what you want. This is a great marketing city, that was one of the reasons why I wanted to come here.

Ammad Omar: Derrick, Ammad Omar with Chicago Public Radio. When did you find out that you were going to be number one, and what was your reaction when you found that out.

Derrick Rose: I said I heard my brother talking at the table, but I really didn’t really pay no attention.

John Paxson [patting Derrick's arm]: You can tell the truth now.

Derrick Rose: I knew at the table. I knew at the table, but I was still so nervous that it was, like he was going to say a B before he said the D. I was so nervous, but man I was so nervous when David Stern came out. I couldn’t believe it.

David Shuster: Hey Derrick, David Shuster again. You are the number one pick, there’s a lot of prestige that goes with that, but you’re also the rookie on the team, the only rookie on the team probably this year. That means you are going to have to carry a lot of the bags, John’s laughing, a lot of the chores for the team. Are you cool with doing that?

Derrick Rose: I’m cool with that. I’m the younger brother of three older brothers, so I had to do that stuff all my life, suck up to them and do all of that stuff. I don’t mind that, but I feel bad for the next rookie.

Reporter: Have you got a chance to talk to Michael Beasley at all, when you got to know you were going number one and number two, did you get a chance to talk to him about his reaction, your reaction, together have you talked to him since the draft?

Derrick Rose: No, we never talked about going one or two, never, we always talked about like what was going on in our cities and stuff like that, but we never talked about the draft.

Reporter: Hey Derrick, you mentioned the night of the draft, that Vinny mentioned to you possibly using you in a lot of screen and roll situations, why are you confident you can succeed in that offense?

Derrick Rose: I think in the workout I did well, I did okay in the workout going off the pick and roll. Obviously I still have to learn but I’m willing to learn and willing to work hard, and I think they realized that when I was doing my workout.

Lisa E.: Hey Derrick, Lisa E. from Power 92, congratulations first of all. Just curious have you talked to your old teammates from Simeon, and have they been supportive?

Derrick Rose: Yes, I’ve talked to a handful of my teammates from Simeon, friend you would say, they text, we usually text all of the time, don’t really call each other or anything like that.

Lisa E.: Have you made your first big purchase now that your an NBA player. What’s going to be your first major thing that your trying to do.

Derrick Rose: I really don’t know right now. They’ve got me running around a lot, when I get settled and all that stuff, that is when I will get to start thinking about that.