Report: Detroit Promised $11 million to Ben Gordon

Report: Detroit Pistons promised $11 million to Ben Gordon
Posted by Dave Dial June 17, 2009 08:08AM

Sam Smith, who writes for the Chicago Bulls Blog at NBA.com, writes that he has heard that the Detroit Pistons have promised Ben Gordon $11 million dollars of their cap space.

June 17, Chicago Bulls Blog: I should say I'm a Gordon guy. I know all his flaws. I view this along the lines of my wife getting to know me and then still marrying me. But I also have seen what Gordon can do, his unique scoring ability and big shot making. Yet, I can understand why the Bulls now would begin to look away from Gordon.

I haven't heard they are, and General Manager Gar Forman has not come off his stance that he wants to bring Gordon back. But I also heard that Gordon's agent allegedly has been saying he has an $11 million promise from the Pistons.

This could go with the promise I received to play giving me a chance to win the lottery. I've never fully understood the supposed Pistons interest. Not because teams don't like Gordon. But because the Pistons have Rodney Stuckey, not a true point guard, and Richard Hamilton. Though the rumors supposedly are the Pistons would trade Hamilton. Though why trade a 6-7 shooting guard to accommodate one maybe a half foot shorter? Though I never say never in the NBA, as Phil Jackson taught me. And Michael.

Here are a couple answers for Smith on why Joe Dumars would want to replace Rip Hamilton with Ben Gordon.

1.)Gordon just turned 26 years old a couple months ago, Hamilton will turn 32 next season.

2.)Gordon shoots almost 42% from beyond the 3-point line and can create his own shot there(something only Chauncey Billups could do most recently with the Pistons), Rip Hamilton can only shoot the 3-point shot if he's left wide open, and even then his career numbers are just under 35%.

One more reason that could be the one that would tip the scales in favor of replacing Hamilton with Gordon is that Joe Dumars could use Rip as an asset in a trade to grab a big man that the Pistons will need next season.

Hoops World points out that it's not legal for the Pistons to contact Gordon or his agent until after July 1st, but theorizes that Dumars may have had conversations last summer while Gordon was a restricted free agent and looking for a raise.

What's not clear in Smith's report is if the 'promise' is for a contract starting at $11 million dollars(doubtful) or if it will average $11 million dollars over the course of 5 seasons. If it's the latter, and that seems most likely, then the contract would start out at under $9.5 million dollars. In that case Joe Dumars would still have enough cap space to sign another big name free agent, and then could make a trade involving Rip Hamilton.

Stay tuned...

Cavs One Goal Phil wrote:Ben Gordon would look good in a Pistons jersey.

Cavs One Goal Phil wrote:
Cleve GM Danny Ferry would probably be willing to take Rip Hamilton off your hands. Think Mo Williams, Delonte West and LeBron James could find him often and get him some wide open threes.

Cavs One Goal Phil wrote:Who would you want and who do you think Cleve would be willing to give up?

Cavs One Goal Phil wrote: Forget about Sasha until Phoenix moves Shaq. Cavs and Pistons get to make an uneasy truce if we are going to keep up with Boston and Orlando.