Ben Gordon Returns To Chicago & I Want Him To Fail

Ben Gordon chucking up shots on one end of the court and ball-handlers blowing past him on the other end.

It's a sight Bulls fans are all-too-familiar with.  But this time, Gordon will not be wearing the familiar red, white and black.  Instead, it will be in the uniform of the hated Detroit Pistons.

And that's even if he plays.  Gordon has been sidelined with  a nagging ankle injury, but I'm pretty sure he'll find a way to suit up against his former employer.

BG7 has been getting his with Detroit, averaging 19.8 points per game, but his 3-point field goals, 3-point field goal percentage, overall field goal percentage and free-throw percentage have all seen significant hits.  Meanwhile, the Pistons are 6-11.  The Bulls are 6-9, but have already cleared their biggest hurdle of the year with the Circus Trip in the team's rear-view mirror.

The Bulls have missed Gordon in some aspects of the game.  Ask any Bulls fan what they think the team needs and they'll answer with one of two things.  A post presence on the offensive end and a go to scorer on the perimeter.

Gordon fits the latter.

We're still young in the season, and if Gordon goes out and drops 30 on Chicago in a Detroit win, it won't be long until he becomes the Bulls version of Mark DeRosa.

Except you can't wish him well upon exiting the United Center.  Not only does he play within the Eastern Conference, he plays within the division, he plays in the Eastern Conference.  That means every game-winner he hits could also affect the Bulls' playoff positioning.

So, as much as I wanted the former No. 3 overall pick to succeed in Chicago is as much as I want to see him fail in Detroit.

Do you want Ben Gordon to fail with the Pistons?

• Yes, I'm a Bulls fan that despises Detroit
• No, I love Ben Gordon

Created on Dec 2, 2009

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poll by twiigs.com

This Alexis Rios For Ben Gordon Trade Already Haunting The Bulls

Pictured above is the last image Chicago Bulls fans saw of the Ben Gordon era in Chicago.  You can name a million (or $55 million) reasons why it ended.  And for some odd reason, I will always point to Jerry Reinsdorf and his love for baseball.


As much as Bulls fans heard about how much better the defense was going to be, the knowledgeable Chicago fan knew that was code for "our offense is going to struggle at times, so bear with us."  It was made clear that Gordon's shoddy defense and questionable shot selection were the two reasons he wouldn't be brought back to the Bulls.

For $3.7 million more over the same time span, Reinsdorf's Chicago White Sox will employ a center fielder who is making Ben Gordon money without Ben Gordon's production.

For what critics say about Gordon's shot selection, baseball fans can say about Rios' eye at the plate.  You can praise Rios' versatility and defensive prowess in the same breath you can chat up BG7's big shot making reputation.

At least you could always count on Gordon to shoot about 43 percent from the field and 41 percent from beyond the arc.  As for Rios, what's so inspiring about a .199/.229/.301/.530 line?  Don't worry, I'll be eagerly awaiting your answer in the comments section.

To this day, I can't believe the Bulls couldn't find money in the coffers for Gordon, the team's leading scorer.  Remember when Chicago paid hefty salaries for Eddie Robinson and Ron Mercer?  And for what?  Obscure references to Robinson's headbands and Mercer's career at Kentucky?

What I will say next will sound familiar to Cubs fans.

Mr. Reinsdorf, if you're not all in with both of your franchises, one has got to go.  It would be like if a parent bought one child designer clothes while shopping at Wal Mart for the other child.  Imagine telling your son or daughter, "Honey, your big brother/sister is getting the Gucci outfit. But maybe when 2010 rolls around, you can get one too."

For years, the Cubs were managed by a corporation that had different agendas.  Agenda No. 1 was its newspaper, which later became its fledgling newspaper.  Agenda No. 2 was making money off the newspaper and baseball team.  Agenda No. 3 was to make as much money as possible from the baseball team to make ends meet -- baseball team be damned.

So now I sit here with Reinsdorf on my mind.  Mr. "I'd Trade My Six NBA Titles For One World Series Title" and a team that clearly needs help.  Jerry, you got your World Series ring.  Can the basketball team go back to being great again?

I want you to look at the Bulls' two losses.

The game against Boston was a laugher.  The Celtics owned that game from the second quarter on.  It was a combination of Boston having really good talent on the court and the Bulls not having a defense to counter it.  And guess what?  Gordon was nowhere to be seen in Boston.  The days of placing poor defensive efforts on Gordon's shoulders are over.

Then there's that choke of a game against Miami.  You want to impress Dwyane Wade to come home and team with Derrick Rose in what would be among the most dynamic backcourt duos in the NBA?  Losing 95-87 isn't going to help at all.  Especially when Wade sees his future teammates slacking on the defensive end leaving a 3-point sniper like Quentin Richardson open from beyond the arc.  Heck, Chicago's "D" reminded Bulls fans of how the Heat won the NBA title a few years ago, hitting mid-range jump shots of D-Wade penetration.

So if you want someone to blame when the Bulls miss out on a playoff spot, head over to 35th & Shields when April comes around.  And while you're on the South Side, go pick up some Harold's Chicken.  It will help take your mind off the fact that you spent $15 just to boo the hell out of Alex Rios in a park full of fans eagerly awaiting the opportunity to cheer when the Cubs lose.

I digress.

And who was taking the big shots for the Bulls down the stretch?  Kirk Hinrich.  Luol Deng.  John Salmons.  Maybe if we were on campus and you asked me, "Ludameister, Hinrich/Deng is getting the ball down the stretch with your beloved Salukis/Tar Heels up by one in the last 10 seconds. How do you feel about this?"  I would probably respond with a brief prayer to the college basketball gods and hope for a miracle.

Guess what?  This isn't college anymore.  Hinrich is a more than serviceable sixth man, Salmons is nothing more than a role player and Deng is trying to rebuild what was once a lock to be an All-Star career.  Derrick Rose can't do it all by himself.  It's just not possible.

Gordon's bad shot selection is the same poor shot selection made by Salmons and Hinrich yesterday, but they get a pass for being grinders.  Somewhere, David Eckstein and Ryan Theriot nod in approval while spooning on a couch somewhere in the land of vertically challenged middle infielders.

And, no, I'm not overreacting.  For the next 78 games, the Bulls will be playing without a go-to-guy in the guts of the game unless something drastically happens before the trade deadline.

There is little doubt in my mind that Wade is the kind of player Chicago needs to grab in the offseason.  If not, Bulls fans will miss Ben Gordon a little bit more as each game passes.

Chicago Bulls To Ride That 'D' In 2009

Part of the reason the Chicago Bulls brought in Vinny Del Negro to coach this team was to instill the kind of offensive firepower he oversaw during his time as a front office member of the Phoenix Suns.

So, why all the talk about defense?

It could be because the team sincerely wants to get back to its championship roots. 

Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen carried much of the offensive load during the golden era of Bulls basketball, but it was their defense that was overlooked because of it.  Jordan is known as the greatest player ever because he could defend like a damn doberman after soaring to the hoop.  Like His Airness, Pippen's could guard four different positions on the court if you asked him to.  His build and athletic ability, not to mention his instincts carried him to anchoring the Bulls' defense.

Or it could be because the team sorely lacks the offensive weapons to outscore teams.

When the Bulls have their scoring droughts, losing Ben Gordon's offensive output will likely be the main reason.  Sure, Luol Deng returns ... but the Bulls need to find out which one will show up to the court.  And fast.  Will it be the player that averaged 18.8 points per game in 2006 or the oft-injured star who had to see more doctors than pregnant Maury Show guest in 2008?

John Salmons averaged 18.3 points per game after joining the Bulls at the trade deadline, but did most of his damage when Deng was out of the line-up.  Salmons will be a small forward lining up at the shooting guard position, which will be good on the defensive side of the ball.  However, it has yet to be seen how a pair of wing forwards will play on the offensive side of the ball when they're on the court at the same time.

Kirk Hinirch is the team's sixth man ... and a damn good (but expensive) one at that.

Here's hoping Joakim Noah spent as much time refining his offensive game as he did refining his game spitting.  I expect nothing more offensively from Tyrus Thomas than a few tip-dunks, fast-break slams and an 18-footer once in every 10 attempts.

Then there's Derrick Rose.  No Bulls player will be met with higher expectations than the reigning NBA Rookie of the Year.  If he takes the kind of leaps Deron Williams and Chris Paul took after their respective rookie seasons, then the Bulls will be fine.  If he doesn't, then the Bulls might be sending extra scouts to see Ed Davis, Derrick Favors or Cole Aldrich.

Don't get it twisted, Bulls fans.  The 2009-10 Bulls will go only as far as Derrick Rose will take them.

Let's make a deal ... a bad one. No, two bad ones.

Joe Dumars better hope that Rip Hamilton is looking towards Utah. A trade for Carlos Boozer would help both teams and make up for Dumars early mistake.

Imagine you have $20 million to spend on NBA players such as Hedo Turkoglu, Trevor Ariza, Lamar Odom, Shawn Marion, Paul Millsap and Ron Artest. 

Now imagine you took that $20 million and signed Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva to long-term deals that combine to about $98 million. And now Plax yourself. 

Don't get me wrong, both Gordon and Villanueva are both very good basketball players. Gordon can shoot the lights out at times and comes through in clutch situations. Villanueva is a 6-foot-10 forward that can handle the ball like a shooting guard and stretch the defense. 

The problem is Gordon is undersized, which causes him to have more cold nights than one would like. And since he doesn't play much defense, he is pretty much useless when his shot is off. Villanueva, as stated before, is 6'10". But his rebounding is often invisible and his low-post defense is non-existent. 

So there you have it Pistons fans. A $98 million rebuilding process brings you two players with a lot of good skills and absolutely no chance of making a team an immediate contender. Patience is a virtue and Joe Dumars clearly did not have it. He could have tried to pursue other options in this free agency period, or better yet, signed just one of the players between Gordon and Villanueva and saved the rest for next summer for the top-quality talent that will be available. 

And while Dumars has made some terrible financial decisions this summer, all is not lost. Word has it the Utah Jazz will do all they can to sign Paul Millsap so they can send off Carlos Boozer. If the Pistons want to improve the 2009-10 version of their team, they should think long and hard about trying to convince the Jazz to trade one expiring contract for another. 

A Rip Hamilton for Carlos Boozer deal would give both teams financial flexibility while filling in immediate needs. The Pistons desperately need a presence down low and need to bust up an over-filled backcourt, while the Jazz need to let Millsap take his place in the rotation while getting a serious threat at the two-guard position. 

If Dumars can make that deal happen, then all was not lost this summer for the Pistons. Either way, best of luck to Gordon and Villanueva because I like them both and I really do think they are good basketball players so I hope they don't draw to much heat from Detroit fans and media. 

That's one bad deal done, are you ready for another? Good, let's do it again.

Imagine you are one of the 29 teams in the NBA that doesn't have Zach Randolph and the $33 million, two-year contract he comes with along with a few guns and DUIs. 

Now imagine you willingly bring him to your team by trading one of your players. Now Plax yourself. 

The Memphis Grizzlies looked like they were doing things right for a while. They have Rudy Gay, OJ Mayo and Marc Gasol. They drafted a center with some questions, but at least one that would provide strong defense. They were looking to get young and athletic. 

But now they trade Quentin Richardson, who would have been a great sixth man for them, and take on Zach Randolph. I only had a brief conversation with Randolph, but while he was a gentleman to me, it's clear to see how he would be a terrible practice player and a cancer in the clubhouse. 

While he might get double-doubles, he does not do it in a way that helps the team wins. He will play about 10 minutes of inspired basketball per game before just going through the motions. He doesn't care too much about helping rookies and seems more interested in what he is going to do after the game is over. 

He is not the player a team should take when they are trying to instill a winning attitude and work ethic in the clubhouse. 

Oh yeah, and that $33 million over two years is going to make it difficult for the Grizzlies to make a play at a 2010 free agent. 

Here's hoping your team does a little better this summer. 

Ben Gordon Agrees To Deal With Pistons, Which Seems To Be Similar To The One He Once Rejected From The Bulls

I wonder if Ben Gordon realizes he has to live in Detroit. For $11 million per, I would not be surprised if General Motors or Ford asked Mr. Gordon for an additional bailout.

And unless the Gar Foreman pulls a rabbit out of his hat, be prepared for a starting line-up of Rose, Salmons, Deng, Thomas, Noah.

Eighth seed, here we come. Again.

Pistons Strike Deal With Gordon [Yahoo! Sports]

Your Problem Child For Mine: A Ben Gordon Sign-And-Trade Proposal

Chicago Tribune scribe K.C. Johnson thinks Portland could be a sleeper in the Ben Gordon sweepstakes. I think we might have a match if the Jail Blazers are willing to make a deal.

The biggest "duh" statement of the offseason is that the Bulls should re-sign Ben Gordon. Despite being undersized as a two guard and underwhelming as a defender, it is hard to fathom why anyone in Chicago would not want to bring back the team's leading scorer.

Gordon averaged 20.5 points per game. And could take that big-bucket making ability to rival Detroit to the tune of a 5-year $50 million deal. Which is similar to what the Bulls offered him right before his rookie contract expired.

$50 million in Detroit is different from $50 million in Chicago, I suppose.

Gordon returning to Chicago could be a key in what could be the next Bulls postseason run. Some think his presence in the backcourt will stunt the growth of Derrick Rose. I guess being able to spot up beyond the arc and drain threes after getting the kick-out from D-Rose is really detrimental to the team's well-being and to Rose's growth as a player.

And if Gordon does leave Michigan Ave. for 8 Mile Rd., how will the Bulls replace his numbers. They're not getting Hedo Turkoglu, and Shawn Marion would have fit the system three years ago. Drafting Wayne Ellington would have been nice, because if you expect guys like John Salmons , who is coming off a career year, and the unreliable Luol Deng to carry the offensive load, then you're going to be very disappointed.

That's why the Bulls need to desperately find a sign-and-trade partner. Rumors of a Gordon-for-Rip Hamilton swap came up not too long ago, and that seems like a realistic, if not ideal move. But here's an idea from outside the box.

How about Gordon to Portland for Greg Oden and leftovers? There are a few salaries that could work, here.

The Trail Blazers are hot on Turkoglu's tail, but might be left in the dust ... which is why they are apparently also targeting Gordon. And if there is any truth to the rumors that Portland tried to swing a deal for Shaq, that shows how much faith they have in the former Ohio State Buckeye center.

So, Portland, on behalf of Bulls GM Gar Foreman, I propose your problem child for mine.

Gordon would be another quality scorer you could team in the backcourt with Brandon Roy, while ridding the team and that town of Sam Bowie, Jr.

Meanwhile, the Bulls could add a true center who projects to be a 14-point, 11-rebound guy per 36 minutes, and if he stays healthy, could be a 20-10 guy that any team would want to build around.

Adding Oden would also allow Chicago to move Joakim Noah to his more natural position, power forward, and possibly help facilitate moving Tyrus Thomas out of town, as Chicago seemingly drafted his clone in Wake Forest forward James Johnson.

Oden isn't going to be a Hall of Famer right now, but adding an inside presence to a team that lived on the perimeter last season wouldn't hurt.

Ben For Rip? Don't Trip. It Could Happen

What will likely be the last you will see of Ben Gordon in a Bulls uniform.

Ben Gordon has all but punched his ticket out of Chicago, and not because of his play on the court. In fact, one could argue Gordon was the go-to-guy, especially for the four playoff teams he was on while in Chicago.

When Derrick Rose wasn't donning the Superman cape, it was Gordon.

If someone were to ask me for a scouting report for BG7, I would simply say he is a "sticker shooter" ... terminology commonly associated with college basketball shooters that can make shots from the "stickers" (logos) that are found beyond the 3-point stripe.

Skip the Vinny "The Microwave" Johnson analogies, simply put, Gordon is a jump shooter who can drain buckets from all over the court. From the wing. The corner. Top of the arc. When Gordon is open and has the ball, he's going to shoot it and he generally does it well. And while shooting is his biggest strength, it is also his biggest weakness as he can go from "shooter" to "chucker" in a moments notice.

And as good as Gordon is, he isn't great for "great" players are never confused for "chuckers."

I digress.

Gordon looks to be on the verge of heading to the Detroit Pistons once the marketplace officially opens up on July 1. If the rumors are true, Gordon will be getting the long-term contract (to the tune of $11 million per season) he has desperately wanted, but never received from Chicago.

It would be a curious signing for the Pistons (as Bulls.com scribe Sam Smith points out), who would then have a loaded backcourt with Rodney Stuckey, Richard "Rip" Hamilton, Aaron Afflalo and former highly touted Chicago hoopster Will "The Thrill" Bynum.

However, it could make sense if it the Bulls and Pistons could come together on a sign-and-trade deal that would send Hamilton to Chicago and allow Gordon to get max money and a change of scenery he seems to desperately want.

Meanwhile, the Bulls would add the 6-fooy-7-inch Hamilton, who is just as good of a shooter as Gordon while also being a better defender.

And maybe more importantly, Chicago would not be hampered by a lengthy deal, instead the Bulls would have Hamilton's $11.375 million contract comes off the books at the end of the 2009-2010 season just like LeBron James, Amare Stoudemire, Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, J.J. Redick and a host of others.

All of whom should be targeted by the Bulls.

Just joking on that J.J. Redick thing, by the way.

Backcourt bungled? Thank heavens for Hinrich's injury

Photo Credit: Associated Press

It's never good to wish harm or injury on someone - it's true. But Kirk Hinrich's injury just might be a blessing in disguise for the Chicago Bulls.

With Vinny Del Negro struggling to find a cohesive unit and a backcourt mate for rookie Derrick Rose, a hurt Hinrich has opened the door for Ben Gordon.

Yes, that Ben Gordon.

The one that threatened to go overseas because he and the Bulls couldn't agree on a contract. The one who's giving the coach advice. The one who won't likely be wearing a Bulls jersey next year.

Yet, this might work out well for the Bulls, evidenced by Gordon's 29-point effort in Saturday night's loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Gordon's play is maddening, yes.

When he's good, he's like a microwave, giving the offense an instant spark as he lights up the scoreboard with a variety of scoring plays including a mid-range shot, a long-distance shot and that "giant killing" runner.

When he's bad, like when his shot isn't falling, the guy he's guarding's shot is falling and he's pouting. In those moments, he's worthless.

But a backcourt of Rose and Gordon, it's exciting enough to hope Hinrich and Larry Hughes sit out awhile.

Because to be honest, Hinrich hasn't been useful in more than a year. And Hughes, well, he hasn't been productive since he left SLU.

So if Hinrich and Hughes can stay on the sidelines and Thabo Sefalosha can continue to throw bricks at the basket, the Bulls will be able to put their best offensive lineup on the court.

Funny how things work sometimes.