If Bulls extend Gordon's deal, it could squelch Kobe rumors

The Bulls open training camp today with a group of players who could stick around for a few years.

For one thing, the upgrade options appear limited. After years of speculation, Kevin Garnett finally moved from Minnesota to Boston, and Pau Gasol's ship figures to stay docked in Memphis.

There may also be no need for the Bulls to make changes. Kirk Hinrich, Ben Gordon, Luol Deng, Tyrus Thomas and Joakim Noah, all between the ages of 21 and 26, should be ready to challenge for the Eastern Conference title this year.

So get used to these Bulls. They'll still be here when the Edens Expressway construction project is finished.

Unless, that is, a certain image-conscious West Coast superstar continues to complain about his lot with the Los Angeles Lakers.

All summer long, the chances of Kobe Bryant being traded to the Bulls sat somewhere between far-fetched and improbable.

There is no evidence right now the Lakers are willing to give up their scoring machine or that any direct talks between the Lakers and Bulls have taken place. Then again, Bryant's off-season issues were never resolved and he's expressed a preference to play in Chicago if he did leave the Lakers.

Bryant swore back in May he wanted out if the Lakers didn't make changes for the better. On the eve of camp, the Lakers' moves-to-improve checklist includes bringing back veteran Derek Fisher and replacing erratic point guard Smush Parker with rookie Javaris Crittenton. Oh, and they signed Denver coach George Karl's son Coby.

So instead of the weekly Garnett trade rumor, will Bulls fans be subjected to constant Kobe chatter this season? Maybe not, because a contract extension for Gordon could effectively put the brakes on such a thought -- at least until next summer.

Gordon and Deng are both eligible to sign contract extensions up until the Oct. 31 deadline. If it doesn't happen, they'll become restricted free agents in 2008.

The Bulls have been in no hurry to talk numbers this summer. But that's no cause for alarm, since Hinrich agreed to a new deal last year on the final day. The feeling here is general manager John Paxson will be reluctant to go any higher than $55 million over five years for Gordon or Deng, which is what shooting guard Kevin Martin reportedly got from the Kings a few weeks ago.

If Bryant trade talks ever become legitimate, here are a few things the Bulls aren't likely to do: Include Deng with Gordon in any trade, pay a hefty amount of luxury tax or even give up Thomas or Noah, since they'd have no means to replace the young big men.

There are combinations that meet the criteria and work under salary-cap rules if Bryant waived his trade kicker. The Bulls would need to add another large contract (like Andres Nocioni's) to avoid the luxury tax, since Ben Wallace is unlikely to leave.

Gordon, Nocioni, Thabo Sefolosha, Joe Smith, plus first-round picks galore, for example, could be done after Dec. 15. Not great for the Lakers, sure, but an argument could be made that it's better than what Minnesota received for Garnett.

Whether or not such a trade has any chance, the point is it only works if Gordon does not sign an extension. NBA rules make it difficult to trade players for a year after they receive a significant raise or those who have signed future extensions. Nocioni is already one of those "base-year compensation" players. A trade can work with one guy like that, but not two.

It would seem out of character for Paxson to forgo a Gordon extension on the slim chance that Bryant tries to force his way out before the trade deadline. If Gordon does sign, consider it a small stamp of approval for the current lineup.