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K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune quotes some anonymous confidants of Ben Gordon's who say the guard isn't concerned with a fat contract extension this summer. Instead, Johnson writes, Gordon will look to sign a one-year, $6 million tender with the Bulls and set up his unrestricted free agency in the summer of 2009.

Is this a good idea? There are famously many big names slotted to hit the market in '09, including a fairly well-known two-guard who could be considered lusted after in Chicago. Gordon would be relying on big numbers on a team he's fighting with and some market freedom from teams which need an above-average but not superstar small shooting guard. The red flags abound.

We may never get to this point -- Gordon suddenly seems like a major trade piece for the Bulls. Gordon's shift toward escape rather than security seems, to me, motivated by the franchise's new futility and the perceived disrespect which comes with scapegoating Ben all the way to the bench.