CBSSports.com: A small chance exists that Chicago may sign and trade Gordon to the Pistons instead.
CBSSports.com has learned that the Bulls and Pistons may yet revisit Detroit's agreement with Ben Gordon and instead investigate a sign-and-trade that would send Allen Iverson to Chicago.
Discussions have not yet reached the highest levels of both organizations, but the revised look at how Gordon goes from Chicago to Detroit would benefit Gordon and the Bulls. Gordon would get an extra year, and thus more money, by signing with the Bulls and getting traded. The Bulls, who currently are getting nothing for losing him, would get Iverson -- a fading future Hall of Famer who would get to finish his career in a major market as long as he's willing to accept a secondary role.
Let's cut to the chase: Why?
What use do the Bulls have for Allen Iverson? Which one of Derrick Rose and Kirk Hinrich do they feel he will compliment? What part of the current Bulls scenario makes you think "yep, we're just a past-it superstar midget short of being competitive next year"? What part of Allen Iverson do we want to be a role model for Derrick Rose?
And if we wouldn't pay the tax for Ben Gordon, why would we pay it for Allen Iverson?
If the Pistons are serious about it, there are many connotations of a sign and trade that would benefit us. One method - and clearly my favourite - would see the Bulls sign and trade Gordon for Arron Afflalo, whose small salary fits under the Bulls tax and gives them a bigger and defensive minded two guard replacement that is still on a rookie deal, plus a massive trade exception to play with. Losing his small salary doesn't exactly do the Pistons a great favour, but it's something.
Other possible candidates that make at least include the draft rights to Dajuan Summers (over whom predraft rumours said the Bulls had interest), Walter Herrmann, Will Bynum or Antonio McDyess, all of whom could fill some need for the Bulls as decent bench contributors. Even Jason Maxiell would be of use to the Bulls, despite his oversized salary. There are pieces Detroit has that can help Chicago, despite the unrealistic nature of it all.
But not Allen freakin' Iverson. I call shenanignas.
Oh, and:
"Discussions have not yet reached the highest levels of both organizations"
It's hard not to call shenanigans with that disclaimer fired out so early. If the ballgirls have talked about something like this amongst themselves, then fine. But it's not really news.
hah, wow. If A.I. were in a Bulls uniform, over/under on him losing respect for VDN: 2 days? 2 hours?
We could make them fight to the death. That'd be fun. I'd probably pay the luxury tax to see that happen.
not sure that I see an incentive for any of the parties involved.
The Pistons don't need to pay Gordon any more money, they the only game in town for him anyway. They still have cap space on the table, so they could have paid Gordon more if they wanted to, as much as $3-4 million more per year. So obviously they don't want/need to pay him more. Why should they, just to be stupid like Orlando was when they signed and traded for Rashard Lewis just to pay him several million dollars more than they needed to.
The Bulls have no incentive to get Gordon more money, so they would have to get something of value from the Pistons, and Iverson isn't value. The only player on thier roster that I want on this Bulls team is Will Bynum, and I don't see Detroit giving him up for the"privelege" of overpaying Gordon even more.
In addition to the 6th year a sign and trade gives Gordon annual raises of 10% instead of 8%. If the Pistons wanted to spend $13-15 million on a player they could have had Boozer.
It sounds like someone said, "hey, how could the Bulls get even more screwed by this," and then wrote an article supposing it's true.
DT we're talking about Reinsdorf. Do you really think he will screw Bulls' fans like this. You just can't lose a 20 ppg scorer and say everything is good for next season. I'm scratching my head, why is Kirk Hinrich still here, let me guess, this has to be some racially motivated. I don't get it.