Bulls shouldn't penalize Deng and Gordon for bad season

Before the start of last season it was all good in Chicago.

General Manager John Paxson and the rest of the front office thought they had something special -- and they did. The Bulls were coming off a season in which they swept the defending champion Miami Heat in the first round of the playoffs and then gave Detroit a serious scare after falling behind 3-0 in the series.

“We’re close,” the Bulls thought. “Next year is our year.”

Knowing that two of their key pieces, small forward Luol Deng and reserve guard Ben Gordon, would soon be unrestricted free agents, the Bulls offered them both five year contracts. Over that five years they wanted to pay Deng $57 million and Gordon $50 million.

Deng was shaping up to be a top five small forward in the league. He had averaged a little over 18 points per game and seven rebounds during the regular season, and he had upped his averages in both categories in the playoffs. Against the Heat and Pistons, teams that were coming off Eastern Conference final appearances, Deng raised his averages to over 22 points and eight rebounds. With his bulk, Detroit’s Tayshaun Prince didn’t appear to phase him. This, the Bulls thought, was something they could use. They would be one of the few teams that had a player that could play well against Prince.

Gordon was instant offense. In a sixth-man role he averaged 20 points per game during the regular season and 18 points in the playoffs. Sure, he was short, too short to start, but he could score. As long as the Bulls had a player like Gordon to come off the bench they wouldn’t have to worry about an extended scoring drought.

“Here you go,” the Bulls said. “We want you guys around for awhile.”

The Bulls had already locked up point guard Kirk Hinrich and had brought in Ben Wallace to anchor the defense and be the enforcer. Wallace appeared to still have a few good years left. A young power forward in Tyrus Thomas added athleticism and more rebounding. If he didn’t work out, rookie Joakim Noah provided insurance, a young version of energy.

But Deng and Gordon didn’t sign their offers, and who could blame them? Another season like the one they had and teams would be knocking down the door to sign them.

They didn’t the disastrous season on the horizon.

The Bulls fired coach Scott Skiles 25 games into the season. Noah started spouting off at the mouth. The veterans spouted back. Reserve guard Chris Duhon started pouting over playing time. Wallace left in a trade to Cleveland. There was a different starting lineup nearly every night. The record fell into the gutter. No one respected lame duck interim coach Jim Boylan.

And now Deng and Gordon have to pay for it.

They still have the talent and Gordon is only 25. Deng is 23. They can still be part of a bright Bulls future, which includes No. 1 overall pick in Derrick Rose, a Chicago native. The Bulls are not a better team without Deng and Gordon.

A smart move for the Bulls would be to extend Gordon and Deng the same offer they did a year ago. Let bygones be bygones and don’t penalize them for what happened last year.

That would be a sign of fairness. All people want from their employer is to be treated fairly.

With a satisfied Deng and Gordon, along with the nice mix of young players and veterans, the Bulls will have something special to work with once again.