Ben Gordon Thinks Way Too Highly of Himself

I know that as members of the media, we’re not supposed to get angry at players. That’s the job of lowly fans. But man alive, Ben Gordon -- not coincidentally, a member of that pesky Class of 2004 -- is beginning to grate on this non-Bulls fan and otherwise objective reporter. Here’s GM John Paxson, speaking to The Chicago Tribune:↵↵⇥“There are things to work through,” Paxson said of the Gordon negotiations. “I’m sure we’ll talk a little bit stronger now. Nobody has dug their heels in, and that’s a good thing.”↵⇥
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↵⇥As currently constructed, the most the Bulls can offer without incurring the punitive tax is a six-year deal worth approximately $58 million. Gordon wants more.↵↵Really? No one’s dug their heels in? That’s why you’ve got Gordon publicly stating that he should be the highest paid Bull, and, as in this otherwise innocuous SLAM interview, entertaining offers from overseas and exploring the sign-and-trade option. Baby Gordo (like the nickname? I’ve available for parties, drafts, and draft parties) expects more than the recently-inked Deng, whose deal comes in just under $12 million per year. Gordon’s being offered $8 or $9 million a year, and, like Paxson said, wants nothing more than to fall in line for the good of the team.
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Given that he has, however passive-aggressively, dug in his heels I’ll weigh in: Gordon can score -- shoot, even. But he’s always been most effective off the bench. And no matter what he works on over the summer, he remains a man without a position or the dynamism necessary to overcome it. He’s an undersized Michael Redd, or Arenas sans ability to control the ball. Not only is that an unimpressive package -- it’s one that, in a year where money is short, has no business whining and making demands. Far superior talents Josh Smith and Andre Iguodala remain unsigned, and neither one of them has taken such a public, or explicit, stance.↵
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↵I say Gordon should head to Europe, so I can say “good riddance!” He gets a free pass because he’s part-British and pals with consummate good guy Emeka Okafor. When in reality, he’s a supremely limited bucket-getter with an inflated ego and reputation. Since when does the NBA stand for that kind of guy getting to set his own terms? Cavs fans are freaking out about giving Delonte West $4 million a year; the Bulls, who are looking to build for the future, really want to hand Gordon more than twice that? Mark my words: A team building around a PG stud doesn’t need overpaid backcourt help getting in the way.↵