What Do You Guys Think Of Ben Gordon?

[BrooklynBulls]

The Bulls board has a long standing debate on whether or not Ben Gordon is a beneficial piece to our team. So I want to know, from the eyes of the enemy, what do you think of him?

Do you think he's a keeper?

Do you think he can start for a championship-caliber team?

How much money do you think he is worth?

Congratulations on the win, guys.

[Fencer reregistered]

I think the key question is whether he can learn to play defense like Ray Allen (a rather comparable player) has.

He's certainly an outstanding offensive asset.

[Banks2Pierce]

Here's what I think about the bulls: if they can get a beast big, they can honestly be a title contender. If they can figure out a way to get Amare Stoudamire without chipping into their core too much, they can do that. I have no idea if the salaries can work, but they are just missing an offensively competent big man.

Gordon chucking up contested shots was probably the Bulls best chance to win. The offense just wasn't going to come from anyone else. If they can get it so that Ben is gets better looks, he will look like a much better player. It is very tough to find closers in this league that can be shooting terribly and all of a sudden come alive when the game is on the line, and Ben has hit big shots for his whole career. He is a big shot maker. Whether he should stick around has more to do with his personality and whether he'd be ok with taking fewer shots and deferring to other players.

[SuigintouEV]

I think his rookie year described him better than I ever could...

"6th man of the year"

He's not a point guard because running an offense is not his forte.
He's really not a 2-guard because even though in this series he looked fine, i still remember guys like vince carter and jerry stackhouse posting on him and eating him up alive - this is back when the bulls were a defensive beast.

I think his best role is the same as Jason terry.

That said, the bulls have been lucky to have some bigger point guards like Hinrich and Rose, so on that specific team they sort of can overshadow him. but If i had to choose, i think hinrich is a better 2-guard than Gordon, and would truly flourish with a big man who draws double teams a la duncan or garnett or gasol or yao etc whereas i don't think Gordon could co-exist that well with a player like that. He might be better at hitting shots and creating his own shot than hinrich, but my gut tells me hinrich is better at playing a real role on a title contender.

[threrf23]

I don't know. He is one of the league's best shooters, a great offensive player. But not that great. His size (and apparent lack of AI's tenacity) limits his defensive potential, and his play creation abilities don't appear all too great and don't typically reflect in stat lines and what not. He would make a great sixth man on a really good team, maybe a good starter if he fit right. Its tough to judge whether he could play his game while coexisting with other good offensive options in a lineup as the Bulls have not had greatly balanced/gifted offenses in the past. But given that they haven't been significantly better offensively with him on the court versus him off the court in recent years, I have my doubts.

I view Kirk Hinrich as underrated, and assume the '07-08 season was a fluke for him (and much of the Bulls). He brings more intangibles to the table, his strengths/weaknesses aren't that much different than Billups' and its not uncommon for PGs to really cap their development and break out around his current age.

I am interested to see what happens in the offseason, with Rose as the PG of your future, Hinrich potentially wanting a starting PG job (and possibly being underutilized without that), and Gordon potentially wanting out (or wanting a really large salary). I do think that you guys should be happy that Hinrich was not traded in-season for some of the lesser packages rumored for him.

[CroCop]

The Bulls board has a long standing debate on whether or not Ben Gordon is a beneficial piece to our team. So I want to know, from the eyes of the enemy, what do you think of him?

Do you think he's a keeper?

Do you think he can start for a championship-caliber team?

How much money do you think he is worth?

Congratulations on the win, guys.

first of all, GREAT series. you guys have one hell of a future with Rose, but obviously that future is gonna depend on what you do with gordon.

Gordon is an awesome player, definately clutch. But if I were Chicago, I'd let him walk. I wouldn't pay more than 8.5 mil for a player like him. He's a short,streaky shooter. To be a legit contender, a team needs a superstar wing or big man, and if he's demanding more than 11 mil, you'll never be able to afford one, you'll be stuck in the "pretenders" category for years.

I say let him walk, develop rose, sit tight, and stay patient. Don't pull a philly and overpay a guy like brand who is and older/injured player. If LeBron teams up with a guy like Wade or Amare in NY, you never know...another superstar might wanna team up with a guy like Rose to compete with them. You have the big market city on your side.

[sully00]

I love Ben Gordon always have. It isn't necessarily fair to judge him as a player based on anything before this season because he wasn't a starter and didn't have his coaches confidence because he is a weak defender.

As a long time Pierce supporter, a player can learn to trust his teammates and share the ball, but they don't just learn to do what Gordon did in this series. The dude was an absolute killer in this series, he may never be more than Jason Terry or a modern day Chuck Person but dude just put up 33 in a game 7 on the road against the defending champs, sure he didn't shoot the ball well but he still showed up 15-15 from the line and got it done.

If the Bulls let him go do you really think John Salmons is capable of the same thing?

I would love to see either him or Hinrich in Green but I really hope for the Bulls they bring them both back and try and find a banger in FA or it will just be one step forward two steps back again.

[alucryts]

The Bulls board has a long standing debate on whether or not Ben Gordon is a beneficial piece to our team. So I want to know, from the eyes of the enemy, what do you think of him?

Do you think he's a keeper?

Do you think he can start for a championship-caliber team?

How much money do you think he is worth?

Congratulations on the win, guys.

first of all, GREAT series. you guys have one hell of a future with Rose, but obviously that future is gonna depend on what you do with gordon.

Gordon is an awesome player, definately clutch. But if I were Chicago, I'd let him walk. I wouldn't pay more than 8.5 mil for a player like him. He's a short,streaky shooter. To be a legit contender, a team needs a superstar wing or big man, and if he's demanding more than 11 mil, you'll never be able to afford one, you'll be stuck in the "pretenders" category for years.

I say let him walk, develop rose, sit tight, and stay patient. Don't pull a philly and overpay a guy like brand who is and older/injured player. If LeBron teams up with a guy like Wade or Amare in NY, you never know...another superstar might wanna team up with a guy like Rose to compete with them. You have the big market city on your side.

great analysis. outlines my feelings exactly. If we get him back, I'd want to make him the 6th man and get a big. Since I doubt that'll happen, I feel he should walk. He's a great guy, but I think the Bulls benefit more in the long run by letting him go.

[Rerisen]

I think the key question is whether he can learn to play defense like Ray Allen (a rather comparable player) has.

He's certainly an outstanding offensive asset.

Gordon had just as an effective series as Ray. Which says something about their relative levels of defense.

The difference is Ray Allen plays defense in a great system, Ben doesn't. Bulls defense has a lot of holes in their D unlike the Celtics. And we don't have a defensive guru like Thibodeau, but instead a rookie head coach that focuses on offense first.

When BG played in a good defensive system (under Skiles) the Bulls had among the top defenses in the league for several years. Defense starts in the paint and we certainly have issues there.

[Rerisen]

If the Bulls let him go do you really think John Salmons is capable of the same thing?

No, but I think its irrelevant anyway, because we need both. A team needs 3 big scorers.

I.e. Garnett, Pierce, Allen.

Lucky for you guys, without KG, Rondo has stepped up to be that third guy. The Bulls 3 guys are Rose, Gordon and Salmons. We wouldn't have enough firepower with Ben deducted. Not unless Deng came back and scored 19 PPG or something on efficient scoring. But I have my doubts with his injury history and poor play these last few years.

[sully00]

No Deng is a big loss but at the same time he is the most expendable of the three of him, Gordon, and Hinrich. Your team can heal up some of defensive weaknesses by getting a better front court defender. Noah is solid but your team continues to lean on either defensive stiffs like Miller, (who would be awesome as a back up center but just not a defender) or a SF at the 4.

If I was the Bulls I would look to move Salmons and Deng and really focus on finding a center who can play next to Noah and play Tyrus between the 3 and the 4, keep the 3 guards and just focus on some real bigs.

[armageddon]

I'd love to see him coming off of the Boston bench.

[Bad-Thoma]

It's hard to criticize a guy that scores like he does, but I'd let him walk. Not taking 11 mil a year is just a red flag to me, he's a great shooter but seems to kill your ball movement whenever the ball finds it's way to him. He was incredible in this series, but I think he's going to be looking for a huge payday.

[celticfan42487]

a younger Ray Allen. He's got the athleticism, and honestly I don't think the height kills him that much on D because of his athleticism.

A clutch shooter is the easiet position to find in the NBA. Redd, Gordon, Allen, K-mart in SAC, Shard Lewis. This is what I can recall from off my head; Shard is more a SF then SG...

but with all that said, I don't know if Gordon has what it takes to be a main man... I don't know if he has the passing skills/foresight. But I wouldn't be upset with him being paid 12 mil a year.

Put on a team like the Celtics for Ray Allen, he's probuly be able to accept his role and would reduce the iso/forced shot situations.

Basically he's got the clutch shooting down pact, and that's big. If he can pass then he's a franchise player...

I'm also just a little to wraped up in thinking how good Rose is going to be. I didn't know his J was so smooth already.. he can make the occasional big play defensive play [block/steals] and just needs a little more expiernce and he'll be up there with Paul and Deron. Crazy.

But yeah I'll see what CHI does. If they can get Gordon for under 14 mill I'll understand the singing and not be upset with it. 11~13 mil is expensive but seems about right for him... but even if they let him walk I wouldn't be upset as a Bulls fan. He can awe you; but amazing shooters as guards are teh easiest types of players to find.

[Cyclical]

Ben Gordon is a cold blooded killer.

He's still pretty young and only getting better.

He needs a scoring big to play alongside so he can get some open looks. Don't blame him for chucking when others on the team don't do enough to win.

He needs to try harder on D. Gives up on screens and switches way too easily.

He's a keeper. He was the Celtics' worst nightmare.

If we had Ben coming off the bench as a 6th man I would be elated. Still, he's a starter on most teams in the league. Did I mention he's a cold blooded killer? Yes.

[s1ickd]

Gordon is certainly not a near max contract player, and that's what he's going to be trying to get unfortunately. Your best bet is to sign and trade him. Hell, starting hinrich at the 2 might be a good move because he's a great shooter and respectable defender. Plus, you'd have two pg's that can play both positions in the backcourt.

The more I think about it though, the more I think your problems lie in the frontcourt as opposed to the backcourt. Noah and Thomas together are great athletically, but there isnt enough beef. They're both also too good and too high of draft picks to bring in off the bench long term.

I would make a big trade like Gordon+Thomas+Miller's Contract+!st rounder for Amare.

Makes sense for the Suns because they need some young talented players in there, and Amare just isn't dominating the way they thought he would.

Rose, Hinrich, Salmons, Noah, Amare

the bench would be thin, but the starting 5 could compete with anyone.

[Al-Haqq]

If you guys are thinking of him in terms of a Celtics uniform, you can forget it. We cannot afford him and our troubles is in the front court.

[TXSun]

that he made your defense look bad at times.

[DelMonte West]

I remember the days when we were all arguing that Ricky Davis should have won the 6th man award over Gordon...

[spf211]

Building the Chicago Bulls --

Derrick Rose -- Potential All-Star caliber point guard. Building Block
Luol Deng -- Versatile two-way forward that can play and defend three positions. Building Block
Joakim Noah -- High energy forward, can start at two positions. Key role player
Kirk Hinrich -- Defensive substitution with outside shooting at two positions. Key role player
John Salmons -- Defensive 2/3 with streaky offensive game. Key role player

Ben Gordon -- Undersized 2, non-playmaking 1, defensive void, streaky shooter. Key role player

Chicago needs to keep things in perspective. They were competitive with a Celtic team playing without Kevin Garnett. There was no inside game in the series to speak of. They have a good number of pieces and two building blocks in Rose and Deng.

The issue is Gordon wants to be paid as part of the foundation when all he really is, is a specialist. This series allowed him to show his value is the best possible light, but it's skewed. Gordon is not going to shoot the Bulls to a championship alongside Deng and Rose. The third block for the Bulls to build on is not a backcourt shooter but a low-post presence -- wherever they can get it.

I don't compare Ben Gordon to Ray Allen for a simple reason -- consistency. Not consistency over a 7-game series (which he didn't particularly have), but an 82 game season and 4 rounds of the playoffs.

Look at what Ray Allen did. He scored 51 points in an amazing streak and the Celtics still lost the game. If the Celtics have Garnett in this series, there's never a chance for Gordon to compete in a shoot-out because it probably wouldn't have come to OT in more than one game. And in OT? Inside scoring is what helps the most, not jump shooters with tired legs.

The Bulls had it right in offering Gordon $11 million a year (maybe they offered too much!) but when they start thinking about giving Gordon franchise money, they need to think again. Keep the roleplayers that sign for reasonable salaries (Hinrich, Salmons, we'll see what Noah fetches in a few years) and let the ones demanding too much (Gordon) walk.

Paxson is still a good GM despite the chemistry bomb that dropped on Chicago the last two years. He'd be foolish to give Gordon a huge offer when he knows Rose is going to command a max-level deal and he still hasn't found an inside presence.

But, in defense of Ben Gordon, he did the right thing in not accepting Chicago's offer. He knew there'd be a team out there that would fall in love with his game and overpay for it. After this series, he's right -- he will get a large payday. If that payday comes from Chicago, however, they'll be hard-pressed to get further than first round playoff victories in the future East.