Bulls guard Ben Gordon's days with the Bulls are over.
Gordon, who became an unrestricted free agent Wednesday, verbally agreed to a five-year contract with the Detroit Pistons worth more than $50 million, according to a source close to the negotiations. Gordon was at the Pistons practice facility in Auburn Hills, Mich., Wednesday and met with Pistons president Joe Dumars. Milwaukee Bucks forward Charlie Villanueva, a former Gordon teammate at Connecticut, also met with Dumars.
Gordon was the Bulls leading scorer each of the last four seasons. He declined the Bulls' six-year, $54 million offer last summer. Gordon wanted to take that deal at the deadline, but the Bulls pulled the offer off the table and he signed a one-year, qualifying offer of $6.4 million. Gordon can't sign -- by league rule --with the Pistons until July 8.
The Pistons have kept media away from Ben Gordon while he visits with Detroit GM Joe Dumars. Still waiting to see if BG leaves Detroit with a verbal contract offer. Some sources said the Pistons were set to offer as much as five years and $50 million, the same contract Gordon turned down from the Bulls in 2007. But now some close to the Detroit organization are wondering if talks have hit a snag.
Check back later for more updates.
The Bulls announced today that the team will participate in the 2009 NBA Summer League presented by EA Sports in Las Vegas. The Bulls will play a total of five games from July 14-19 at Cox Pavilion and the Thomas & Mack Center located on the campus of UNLV. Bulls first-round picks James Johnson (No. 16 overall in NBA Draft 2009) and Taj Gibson (No. 26 overall in NBA Draft 2009) highlight the roster, and will be joined by fellow Bulls Anthony Roberson, Linton Johnson III and DeMarcus Nelson.
NO. PLAYER POS HGT WGT BORN COLLEGE/COUNTRY EXP.
3 Josh Shipp G 6-5 215 02/14/86 UCLA 1
5 Anthony Roberson G 6-2 180 02/14/83 Florida 4
6 Chris Davis G 6-1 185 01/26/86 Southern R
11 Taurean Green G 6-0 185 11/28/85 Florida 3
14 Lorenzo Mata-Real C/F 6-8 230 02/27/86 UCLA R
16 James Johnson F 6-8 245 02/20/87 Wake Forest R
21 DeMarcus Nelson G 6-4 200 11/02/85 Duke 1
22 Taj Gibson F 6-9 225 06/24/85 USC R
25 Julius Hodge F/G 6-7 210 11/18/83 North Carolina State 4
32 Brandon Costner F 6-9 230 07/21/87 North Carolina State R
35 Tyrell Biggs F 6-8 235 08/07/86 Pittsburgh R
40 James Augustine F/C 6-10 240 02/27/84 Illinois 2
42 Nick Lewis F/C 6-11 240 04/20/83 San Diego R
44 AD Vassallo F/G 6-6 215 04/21/86 Virginia Tech R
50 Luke Zeller C 6-11 240 04/07/87 Notre Dame R
54 Linton Johnson III F 6-8 205 06/13/80 Tulane 6
The Bulls hired Randy Brown as director of player development Wednesday.
Brown, 41, spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach for the Sacramento Kings. He played five of his 12 seasons with the Bulls (1995-2000).
``We are excited to have Randy back in the Bulls organization,'' general Manager Gar Forman said. ``In this new role, Randy will work with players before and after practice, overseeing on-court skills development. As a former player and coach in our league, I feel Randy's experience will be of great benefit to our young players in numerous areas of their development."
Brown was on three championship teams with the Bulls, including the 1996 squad which win a league-record 72 regular-season games.
``It's great to be back with the Bulls, and come home to Chicago once again,'' Brown said. ``The Bulls are one of the best organizations in the NBA, one that I have always had a fondness for. I look forward to getting started, and working with our players to help them advance and strengthen their skills."
Ben Gordon, who was in Detroit Wednesday to talk free-agent contract with the Pistons, is scheduled to appear Saturday (noon until 1 p.m.) at the NBA Nation site of Taste of Chicago. Tyrus Thomas will be at Taste Thursday (2 p.m.-3 p.m.). OJ Mayo will appear Saturday (1 p.m.-2 p.m.), Andre Iguodala on Sunday (1 p.m.-2 p.m.), and Darryl Dawkins, today and Thursday (3 p.m.-6 p.m.).
Times and appearances subject to change.
NBA Nation is a customized 18-wheel truck that expands into a 20,000-square-foot basketball playground for fans of all ages to participate in a variety of activities. There will be competitions, basketball games, contests, prizes and special guest appearances.
Times: Wednesday, July 1, 11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Thursday, July 2, 11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Friday, July 3, 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Saturday, July 4, 11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Sunday, July 5, 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
The NBA free agent market officially opens tonight at 11:01 p.m. and Ben Gordon is expected to hear offers from the Detroit Pistons and Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Pistons, who fired coach Michael Curry Tuesday, are expected to have $17 to $19 million in salary cap room. The PIstons are expected to pursue Carlos Boozer first, if he opts out of his contract with Utah. But most believe Boozer will remain with the Jazz and collect $12.7 million next season, rather than risk settling for less as a free agent. Indiana Pacers star Danny Granger, in an interview on The Boers and Bernstein Show (WSCR, 670-AM) Tuesday, said the Bulls would be better off getting a forward like Boozer instead of re-signing Gordon, who will be an unrestricted free agent.
``Ben is a really good scorer in this league,'' Granger said. ``You can say whatever you want about how tall he is [6-2] or whatever but, bottom line, Ben can score the ball. We are in the same division. As far as what makes them better? If they didn't re-sign [Gordon] and they maybe went after someone else. Maybe like a Carlos Boozer, depending if he opts out, or not. Because I think if they get an inside presence, they'll be really good. Especially with Derrick Rose on the perimeter.
``That's coming from an Indiana player and I don't want the Bulls to be that much better.''
Derrick Rose will take part in the U.S. men's national team minicamp from July 22-25 in Las Vegas.
Should Rose be on the U.S. Olympic team in 2016, Chicago's secretive organizing committee could try to sell it as another insurance policy against financial overruns.
Team USA chairman Jerry Colangelo, a native Chicagoan, made the announcement early Thursday. Unlike the 2016 Chicago committee, it was not done in a secret briefing to aldermen.
Rose appears to be on track to make either the 2012 U.S. Olympic team that will play in London or the 2016 team.
Bulls star guard Derrick Rose speaks to his fans before a Los Angeles workout. View video at:
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=707610740275
General manager Gar Forman just concluded a 30-minute Q & A covering general topics concerning the NBA draft Thursday. The Bulls have two first-round picks (Nos. 16 and 26) and Forman said the team, as is its practice, has talked to teams about moving up, down, and even completely out of the draft.
Given the two picks, Forman estimated he and his staff have held workouts for 50 prospects, many more than what is usual. He said the team has winnowed that group to approximately six players the Bulls believe would make sense at No. 16. The Bulls' scenarios also include drafting an international player still a year or two away from the NBA at No. 26.
Forman said he expects there to be an active trade market leading up to and including draft night.
Citing an injury, Louisville's Earl Clark, a 6-10 forward, did not show for a scheduled workout with the Bulls on Sunday.
Gonzaga's Austin Daye and Micah Downs, UCLA's Josh Shipp, Memphis' Antonio Anderson, West Virginia's Alex Ruoff and Clemson's K.C. Rivers were at the Berto Center.
A power outage cut Saturday's workout short. The air conditioning was still not functioning Sunday.
The Bulls will try to reschedule Clark before the draft Thursday. The Bulls have two first-round picks (Nos. 16 and 26). As is the normal practice when without a lottery pick, the team is talking to many teams about various trade possibilities for moving up or down.
There is a good chance Clark will be selected in the first 15.
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