Let's make a deal ... a bad one. No, two bad ones.

Joe Dumars better hope that Rip Hamilton is looking towards Utah. A trade for Carlos Boozer would help both teams and make up for Dumars early mistake.

Imagine you have $20 million to spend on NBA players such as Hedo Turkoglu, Trevor Ariza, Lamar Odom, Shawn Marion, Paul Millsap and Ron Artest. 

Now imagine you took that $20 million and signed Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva to long-term deals that combine to about $98 million. And now Plax yourself. 

Don't get me wrong, both Gordon and Villanueva are both very good basketball players. Gordon can shoot the lights out at times and comes through in clutch situations. Villanueva is a 6-foot-10 forward that can handle the ball like a shooting guard and stretch the defense. 

The problem is Gordon is undersized, which causes him to have more cold nights than one would like. And since he doesn't play much defense, he is pretty much useless when his shot is off. Villanueva, as stated before, is 6'10". But his rebounding is often invisible and his low-post defense is non-existent. 

So there you have it Pistons fans. A $98 million rebuilding process brings you two players with a lot of good skills and absolutely no chance of making a team an immediate contender. Patience is a virtue and Joe Dumars clearly did not have it. He could have tried to pursue other options in this free agency period, or better yet, signed just one of the players between Gordon and Villanueva and saved the rest for next summer for the top-quality talent that will be available. 

And while Dumars has made some terrible financial decisions this summer, all is not lost. Word has it the Utah Jazz will do all they can to sign Paul Millsap so they can send off Carlos Boozer. If the Pistons want to improve the 2009-10 version of their team, they should think long and hard about trying to convince the Jazz to trade one expiring contract for another. 

A Rip Hamilton for Carlos Boozer deal would give both teams financial flexibility while filling in immediate needs. The Pistons desperately need a presence down low and need to bust up an over-filled backcourt, while the Jazz need to let Millsap take his place in the rotation while getting a serious threat at the two-guard position. 

If Dumars can make that deal happen, then all was not lost this summer for the Pistons. Either way, best of luck to Gordon and Villanueva because I like them both and I really do think they are good basketball players so I hope they don't draw to much heat from Detroit fans and media. 

That's one bad deal done, are you ready for another? Good, let's do it again.

Imagine you are one of the 29 teams in the NBA that doesn't have Zach Randolph and the $33 million, two-year contract he comes with along with a few guns and DUIs. 

Now imagine you willingly bring him to your team by trading one of your players. Now Plax yourself. 

The Memphis Grizzlies looked like they were doing things right for a while. They have Rudy Gay, OJ Mayo and Marc Gasol. They drafted a center with some questions, but at least one that would provide strong defense. They were looking to get young and athletic. 

But now they trade Quentin Richardson, who would have been a great sixth man for them, and take on Zach Randolph. I only had a brief conversation with Randolph, but while he was a gentleman to me, it's clear to see how he would be a terrible practice player and a cancer in the clubhouse. 

While he might get double-doubles, he does not do it in a way that helps the team wins. He will play about 10 minutes of inspired basketball per game before just going through the motions. He doesn't care too much about helping rookies and seems more interested in what he is going to do after the game is over. 

He is not the player a team should take when they are trying to instill a winning attitude and work ethic in the clubhouse. 

Oh yeah, and that $33 million over two years is going to make it difficult for the Grizzlies to make a play at a 2010 free agent. 

Here's hoping your team does a little better this summer. 

Ben Gordon Agrees To Deal With Pistons, Which Seems To Be Similar To The One He Once Rejected From The Bulls

I wonder if Ben Gordon realizes he has to live in Detroit. For $11 million per, I would not be surprised if General Motors or Ford asked Mr. Gordon for an additional bailout.

And unless the Gar Foreman pulls a rabbit out of his hat, be prepared for a starting line-up of Rose, Salmons, Deng, Thomas, Noah.

Eighth seed, here we come. Again.

Pistons Strike Deal With Gordon [Yahoo! Sports]

Your Problem Child For Mine: A Ben Gordon Sign-And-Trade Proposal

Chicago Tribune scribe K.C. Johnson thinks Portland could be a sleeper in the Ben Gordon sweepstakes. I think we might have a match if the Jail Blazers are willing to make a deal.

The biggest "duh" statement of the offseason is that the Bulls should re-sign Ben Gordon. Despite being undersized as a two guard and underwhelming as a defender, it is hard to fathom why anyone in Chicago would not want to bring back the team's leading scorer.

Gordon averaged 20.5 points per game. And could take that big-bucket making ability to rival Detroit to the tune of a 5-year $50 million deal. Which is similar to what the Bulls offered him right before his rookie contract expired.

$50 million in Detroit is different from $50 million in Chicago, I suppose.

Gordon returning to Chicago could be a key in what could be the next Bulls postseason run. Some think his presence in the backcourt will stunt the growth of Derrick Rose. I guess being able to spot up beyond the arc and drain threes after getting the kick-out from D-Rose is really detrimental to the team's well-being and to Rose's growth as a player.

And if Gordon does leave Michigan Ave. for 8 Mile Rd., how will the Bulls replace his numbers. They're not getting Hedo Turkoglu, and Shawn Marion would have fit the system three years ago. Drafting Wayne Ellington would have been nice, because if you expect guys like John Salmons , who is coming off a career year, and the unreliable Luol Deng to carry the offensive load, then you're going to be very disappointed.

That's why the Bulls need to desperately find a sign-and-trade partner. Rumors of a Gordon-for-Rip Hamilton swap came up not too long ago, and that seems like a realistic, if not ideal move. But here's an idea from outside the box.

How about Gordon to Portland for Greg Oden and leftovers? There are a few salaries that could work, here.

The Trail Blazers are hot on Turkoglu's tail, but might be left in the dust ... which is why they are apparently also targeting Gordon. And if there is any truth to the rumors that Portland tried to swing a deal for Shaq, that shows how much faith they have in the former Ohio State Buckeye center.

So, Portland, on behalf of Bulls GM Gar Foreman, I propose your problem child for mine.

Gordon would be another quality scorer you could team in the backcourt with Brandon Roy, while ridding the team and that town of Sam Bowie, Jr.

Meanwhile, the Bulls could add a true center who projects to be a 14-point, 11-rebound guy per 36 minutes, and if he stays healthy, could be a 20-10 guy that any team would want to build around.

Adding Oden would also allow Chicago to move Joakim Noah to his more natural position, power forward, and possibly help facilitate moving Tyrus Thomas out of town, as Chicago seemingly drafted his clone in Wake Forest forward James Johnson.

Oden isn't going to be a Hall of Famer right now, but adding an inside presence to a team that lived on the perimeter last season wouldn't hurt.

Ben For Rip? Don't Trip. It Could Happen

What will likely be the last you will see of Ben Gordon in a Bulls uniform.

Ben Gordon has all but punched his ticket out of Chicago, and not because of his play on the court. In fact, one could argue Gordon was the go-to-guy, especially for the four playoff teams he was on while in Chicago.

When Derrick Rose wasn't donning the Superman cape, it was Gordon.

If someone were to ask me for a scouting report for BG7, I would simply say he is a "sticker shooter" ... terminology commonly associated with college basketball shooters that can make shots from the "stickers" (logos) that are found beyond the 3-point stripe.

Skip the Vinny "The Microwave" Johnson analogies, simply put, Gordon is a jump shooter who can drain buckets from all over the court. From the wing. The corner. Top of the arc. When Gordon is open and has the ball, he's going to shoot it and he generally does it well. And while shooting is his biggest strength, it is also his biggest weakness as he can go from "shooter" to "chucker" in a moments notice.

And as good as Gordon is, he isn't great for "great" players are never confused for "chuckers."

I digress.

Gordon looks to be on the verge of heading to the Detroit Pistons once the marketplace officially opens up on July 1. If the rumors are true, Gordon will be getting the long-term contract (to the tune of $11 million per season) he has desperately wanted, but never received from Chicago.

It would be a curious signing for the Pistons (as Bulls.com scribe Sam Smith points out), who would then have a loaded backcourt with Rodney Stuckey, Richard "Rip" Hamilton, Aaron Afflalo and former highly touted Chicago hoopster Will "The Thrill" Bynum.

However, it could make sense if it the Bulls and Pistons could come together on a sign-and-trade deal that would send Hamilton to Chicago and allow Gordon to get max money and a change of scenery he seems to desperately want.

Meanwhile, the Bulls would add the 6-fooy-7-inch Hamilton, who is just as good of a shooter as Gordon while also being a better defender.

And maybe more importantly, Chicago would not be hampered by a lengthy deal, instead the Bulls would have Hamilton's $11.375 million contract comes off the books at the end of the 2009-2010 season just like LeBron James, Amare Stoudemire, Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, J.J. Redick and a host of others.

All of whom should be targeted by the Bulls.

Just joking on that J.J. Redick thing, by the way.

Backcourt bungled? Thank heavens for Hinrich's injury

Photo Credit: Associated Press

It's never good to wish harm or injury on someone - it's true. But Kirk Hinrich's injury just might be a blessing in disguise for the Chicago Bulls.

With Vinny Del Negro struggling to find a cohesive unit and a backcourt mate for rookie Derrick Rose, a hurt Hinrich has opened the door for Ben Gordon.

Yes, that Ben Gordon.

The one that threatened to go overseas because he and the Bulls couldn't agree on a contract. The one who's giving the coach advice. The one who won't likely be wearing a Bulls jersey next year.

Yet, this might work out well for the Bulls, evidenced by Gordon's 29-point effort in Saturday night's loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Gordon's play is maddening, yes.

When he's good, he's like a microwave, giving the offense an instant spark as he lights up the scoreboard with a variety of scoring plays including a mid-range shot, a long-distance shot and that "giant killing" runner.

When he's bad, like when his shot isn't falling, the guy he's guarding's shot is falling and he's pouting. In those moments, he's worthless.

But a backcourt of Rose and Gordon, it's exciting enough to hope Hinrich and Larry Hughes sit out awhile.

Because to be honest, Hinrich hasn't been useful in more than a year. And Hughes, well, he hasn't been productive since he left SLU.

So if Hinrich and Hughes can stay on the sidelines and Thabo Sefalosha can continue to throw bricks at the basket, the Bulls will be able to put their best offensive lineup on the court.

Funny how things work sometimes.