Two days left for Gordon, Deng
Ben Gordon has the perfect remedy for those times when contract negotiations or trade rumors start weighing on him.
"It's easy for me," he said Monday at the Berto Center. "I just come in the gym and shoot, anytime I have a lot on my mind. Basketball's my outlet, my job, what I do for fun."
There are two days left for Gordon and Luol Deng to agree to contract extensions and avoid becoming restricted free agents next summer.
The official deadline is 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, but since the Bulls will play their season-opener at New Jersey that night, a final decision will likely be made by the afternoon.
"I'm definitely happy that something's going to happen on the 31st, whether I sign or I don't," Gordon said. "Then I can just focus on the season either way."
Deng did not speak to the media following Monday's practice. Both Gordon and Deng have met in recent days with Bulls general manager John Paxson to discuss the state of negotiations. The two players have been given offers in the neighborhood of $50 million over five years, according to team sources.
"(Paxson) was just putting the whole situation in perspective," Gordon said. "Just letting me know how he felt about the situation."
Deng and Gordon are weighing not only their future salaries, but the advantages or disadvantages of waiting for a new deal. By signing next summer, the players would be allowed to negotiate a six-year contract, as opposed to a limit of five years right now.
They also could, in theory, make the all-star team this season, help lead the Bulls to the conference finals or beyond and rightfully ask for $60 million or more over five years.
Gordon has been the Bulls' leading scorer the past two seasons and suggested he should be paid as though he's the team's best player. The maximum salary for a fourth-year player is $13.9 million, though, so he can't top Ben Wallace's $15.5 million.
"I think I am (the Bulls' best player)," Gordon said. "I'm sure Lu does, too. I don't like to count other people's money. I'm always just looking at a deal that I think I deserve or I think is good for me."
Gordon may not count other people's money, but he and his agent, Raymond Brothers, surely noticed that Sacramento guard Kevin Martin signed an extension worth $55 million over five years. Martin averaged 20.2 points last season, compared to 21.4 points for Gordon.
Howard on radar: The Bulls have expressed interest in veteran power forward Juwan Howard, who accepted a contract buyout from Minnesota over the weekend. Howard, a Chicago native, averaged 9.7 points and 5.9 rebounds last season for Houston.
The Bulls still have their bi-annual exception worth $1.83 million available if they want to add depth to the front line. Howard, 34, is also thought to be considering Boston and Cleveland, two of the Bulls' main rivals in the East.
Bull horns: Neither Ben Wallace nor Joakim Noah practiced Monday because of sprained ankles. Coach Scott Skiles is hoping Wallace can practice today, while Noah is expected to miss Wednesday's opener against the Nets. ... The Bulls made their new radio home official on Monday. Their games will be heard on WMVP 1000-AM effective immediately.