Dwayne Wade Says Bulls Should Keep Gordon

Chicago Bulls should keep Ben Gordon, says Dwyane Wade
Fred Mitchell | AROUND TOWN
3:02 PM CDT, July 1, 2009

Two of the NBA's leading scorers last season -- Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat and Danny Granger of the Indiana Pacers -- are convinced the Bulls should try their best to retain free agent guard Ben Gordon.

"Ben is one of the best scorers that we have in our league," said Wade, who led the NBA with a 30.2 average last season. "It is hard to say that you shouldn't re-sign him. I mean, he is one of those players who is very rare to come by. I think [the Bulls] are going to do what's best for the team, and you don't know what their plans are. I am sure they are going to do what's best for the organization. And Ben has to do what's best for him, as well."

Gordon, who led the Bulls with 20.7 points a game last season and a 24.3 average in the playoffs, is reportedly visiting the Detroit Pistons Wednesday.

"Ben Gordon is very unique with what he brings," said Granger, a 6-8 small forward who averaged 25.8 points for the Pacers. "I think he is only about 6-1 or 6-2 [although listed as 6-3). So he is under-sized for the shooting guard position. But he can score the ball with the best of them. And I think that can always be used on any team. I compare him a lot to Jason Terry [of the Dallas Mavericks]. Ben is not the prototypical size, but his ability to score the ball is unprecedented. So I think [the Bulls] need him.

"You know, Derrick Rose, who I am a big fan of ... I think he is going to be a great player in the league. ... But I really think they need Ben. You know what you're going to get from Ben. He will give you 20-plus points a game if you give him the minutes. If you have a player like that who can score, you have to keep him around."

Word on the street: Granger was in New York Tuesday, appearing on behalf of Chicago-based Abbott nutrition brand EAS. "We play 82 games in the NBA and we travel so much. It is important to know what you put in your body," said Granger.

Wade will host a charity basketball game Thursday night at Richards High School in Oak Lawn against a team headed by fellow NBA standout Quentin Richardson of the Memphis Grizzlies.

"This year we wanted to do something a little different and Quentin Richardson is one of my best friends," said Wade, whose foundation has benefited young people for several years. "We just decided to have some fun and bring this game to Chicago. This can be more productive in the community here in Chicago. People can buy tickets at the door, $10 for adults and $3 for kids. There will be autographs for the first 100 who show up."

Wade met President Barack Obama last week at the White House.

"I was excited to go to the White House. It wasn't for winning a championship. It was to be a part of the National Father's Day venture that they have going on," he said. "We go out and talk to kids about, you know, fatherhood. But meeting the president was awesome. I mean, he's so laid-back, he's so cool. That was probably the most excited and most nervous to meet another human being that I have ever been. I am not one who usually gets that excited. He has an aura when he walks into a room.

"It is great to have the president be a huge fan of our sport. Of course, basketball, to us, is the most important game, but not to everyone. Football is the most popular game that we have. But to have our president, our leader, love basketball is great."

Overheard: Both Granger and Wade also weighed in on Rose, last season's NBA Rookie of the Year.

"I have played against Derrick and he is a very humble kid and he is very talented," said Wade. "He is back home in Chicago, so there are more people seeing what you do. Once people put you up on that pedestal, there are going to be people trying to bring you down from that pedestal. You can't worry about what's been said. Just know that you are going to make mistakes. We all do. We all have dirt."

Granger added: "It's going to be a learning process for [Rose]. It's a whirlwind when you come into the Association and you are making so much money and you are so young. And there are so many people who look up to you now. Then there might be family members who look for you to support them. So there is a lot to put on a guy's shoulders. But it's a [learning] curve and he will learn.

"As far as on the court, I think he's outstanding. I mean, he had a great rookie year. His athleticism that he has at the point guard position...I want to say is probably the best in the NBA that I have seen. That's as far as his quickness, his speed and his ability to create plays and his ability to make tough shots. He is really an outstanding player."

The last word: "I have no idea what's going to happen next summer. There are so many free agents that year, but that doesn't mean that something is going to happen dramatically. Everyone could stay put if they wanted to. Or it could be shaken up a little bit. It's a wait-and-see kind of thing."

Wade talking about the 2010 NBA free-agent class.