Jorge Sierra of Hoopshype.com recently did an interview with Ben Gordon. In the interview, Gordon reflects on his time in Chicago and the free agency situation. I’m going to pick out and discuss some of the most interesting parts of the interview.
Tell me a little bit about how the free agency process was. Is it true that the Bulls never made an offer?
BG: Yeah, it’s true. You know, I think the level of interest that the Pistons had and they showed was far greater than that of the Bulls. Most teams in that situation, if they want to re-sign a player like myself in the situation I was under, they’d be very clear about it even before free agency started. But as days got closer, I realized the Bulls weren’t interested in re-signing me. Once July 1 came, the feeling I had was true. They didn’t make an offer. I visited Detroit and that evening I pretty much made my mind up that’s where I wanted to be.
I think it has become quite clear that Ben Gordon didn’t really have many choices, except to go to the Pistons. He might have been able to explore some sign and trades involving a team like Miami or New York, both of whom wanted Gordon when he was a restricted free agent in 2009, but that would have been a fruitless venture as there is no way the Bulls would have agreed to take on that extra salary, unless a special talent like Michael Beasley was coming back. Gordon also could have waited to see if some teams like Portland or Toronto wanted to offer him their cap space.
The situation is very black and white. Gordon had the choice of signing with the Pistons or signing for the MLE on day one. There really wasn’t much thinking that Gordon had to do, given his situation, any player would have chosen to sign with Detroit.
Did it make you feel bad that the Bulls, the team you had led in scoring several years, didn’t show more interest in re-signing you?
BG: Yes and no. After being there for five years, I had a great understanding of how the organization operates. I had a better understanding from the inside, that people on the outside don’t see, of how things work. And at the end of the day, it’s a business. Everybody in that position is going to make the decision that they feel is the best business decision. As a basketball player, obviously with everything I’ve done here and the potential of the future with this team, to not be made an offer is kind of a slap in the face. But from a business standpoint, I fully understand why everything happened the way it did. I don’t have any bad feelings. It’s time to move on and start a new chapter in my career.
By business decision, Gordon is referring to the Bulls not wanting to pay the luxury tax, and be able to use 2010 free agency as a selling point for the team’s future.
When you look back at the Chicago years, how do you feel about what you did there?
BG: I feel that we were like a team that was always on the verge of taking the next step and become one of the elite teams. I feel like we always had great talent, but were always missing one or two pieces to get over the hump. We never got over the hump while I was there, so I’m not happy about that. I wish we’d had more success as a team. We could’ve been great if we had one more piece or at least we had kept the teams together.
Gordon clearly feels that ownership wasn’t committed to making this a winning team. The reference to keeping the team together is likely a reference to the Bulls salary dumping Tyson Chandler. The one more piece is likely a reference to Pau Gasol, who the Bulls rejected a trade for because they did not want to take on the extra salary, which would result in them going into the luxury tax, as a result of signing and trading P.J. Brown to make the trade happen.
In Detroit, what I’m expecting is to show my overall game a little bit more. Not just be somebody who can score, but also one who can make plays for his teammates and make them better. That’s something I’m looking forward to.
I think the plan in Detroit is for Richard Hamilton to start at shooting guard and for Ben Gordon to start at point guard. If the Pistons are successful in converting Gordon into a point guard, they will have a legitimate start on their hands. Almost every time that Ben Gordon had a smaller guard defending him, he torched them. Most point guards can’t guard him, and as seen throughout his time with the Bulls, a lot of bigger shooting guards have trouble guarding him. If Gordon can successfully convert to the point guard spot, he will take his scoring to new heights.
