No deals for Deng, Gordon
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Ben Gordon and Luol Deng have decided to save negotiations for another day.
Neither Bulls player agreed to terms on a contract extension before Wednesday's midnight deadline, meaning they will become restricted free agents next summer.
There is no great sense of loss for the Bulls, since they'll be able to match any offer from another team. Talks are allowed to resume July 1.
In Gordon's mind, they never began.
"There was never really a negotiation," Gordon said before Wednesday's game against the Nets. "It was kind of like 'take it or leave it.' I didn't sign, so I guess it's safe to say I never considered it. Hopefully something will get done next time."
Neither Deng nor Gordon expressed much optimism in the past week that an agreement would be reached. Clearly, the sides finished far apart.
"I wasn't expecting a miracle to happen today," Gordon said. "I can't say I'm shocked or anything like that."
The Bulls were believed to be offering deals in the neighborhood of $50 million for five years. Deng was looking for something above $12 million per year, while Gordon asked for a starting salary closer to $13.9 million, the league maximum for a fourth-year player, according to league sources.
Both players are taking the optimistic view that they'll get better this season and can command a higher salary by next summer.
"I wish it would have gotten done," Deng said. "But it didn't, so you've just got to play and hope for the best. I'm a little disappointed, but you've got to understand the business part of it. It's not one side, it's really both sides. We both couldn't come to terms."
In coach Scott Skiles' mind, the two Bulls shouldn't need an unsettled contract to provide extra motivation this season.
"A high, high percentage of the time, they show up to play no matter what anyway," Skiles said. "It's easier said than done, I realize that. You're dealing with people's families and those kind of situations. You also hope that things don't throw guys off. I don't think this will, I really don't."
Thomas gets start: After a month of light suspense, the starting power forward job was given to Tyrus Thomas.
"The first four or five days of two-a-days in the Berto Center, that first unit (with Thomas) played really, really well together," Scott Skiles said. "I wanted to take a look at something a little bit different late in camp, basically because we had injuries. He certainly didn't do anything in exhibition to hurt himself."
Skiles cautioned that this was by no means a permanent move. Thomas had 6 rebounds and 4 points in 22 minutes.
Injury report: Chris Duhon left the game midway through the fourth quarter with a left-elbow contusion. The Bulls guard was chasing his man around a screen, slipped and struck his elbow on the floor. Duhon was able to return a few minutes later.
Ben Wallace played 38 minutes against the Nets, showing few effects of a sprained left ankle. Rookie Joakim Noah (sprained right ankle) was inactive, but he conducted a few interviews in French before the game.
Bull horns: The Nets outscored the Bulls 37-19 at the foul line. … Rookie center Aaron Gray did not see any action. … Among the celebrities who turned out for New Jersey's opener were Donald Trump and comedian Chris Rock, who was seated near Nets part owner Jay-Z.