John Paxson on Waddle and Silvy

John Paxson appeared on ESPN 1000’s Waddle and Silvy to discuss the Deng signing, the Gordon negotiations, and potential trades.

Paxson said that it is a done deal with Luol Deng. He refused to give out the terms of the deal or the incentives. He sees Deng being a better player next year with Derrick Rose. He thinks there is now a comfort level on both sides and that Deng will be able to take a deep breath and not worry about anything for awhile.

Deng never gave the Bulls an ultimatum of August 4th. Paxson thinks that this was just something that got planted in the media for negotiating leverage. They knew from the beginning that Luol preferred to have some certainty of his contract situation by the time he left to London.

Looking back at last year, Paxson is still amazed at how everything just went wrong from the beginning. Starting with the contracts not getting done, then the outsider perspective of things falling apart and the Bulls not treating their players well, and also the Kobe rumor. He thinks it is unfair to question Deng’s mental makeup when everyone on the team had a down year, although he thinks that it is human nature for uncertainty in one’s job life to affect them. Paxson appreciates all the hard work and all he’s done for the organization and thinks that Luol’s best days are ahead of him.

Paxson thinks that Gordon has every right to explore Europe as an option. It is the reality of the business with the current rules that restricted free agents have to explore options like this. Paxson says that Gordon has the right to explore his options in Europe, signing an offer sheet with another team, and finding a sign and trade. Paxson thinks a sign and trade will be difficult because the other team has to pay Gordon what he wants while also making the deal attractive to the Bulls. Paxson maintains that he wants to resign Gordon and that this has always been his intention. He says that negotiations aren’t just throwing a figure down and having it magically get done. Now with Luol Deng signed, the team can look at their budget sheeets and come to more of a certainty on what they can offer Gordon.

Paxson also said that he is always working the phones. He would like to get a deal done to clear out the guard glut and balance the roster. He never intended for the backcourt to get this crowded, but that it just happened as a result of the Bulls landing the top pick and drafting Derrick Rose. He says that he will not make a money deal unless it gives them flexibility to pull off another move. He did not say whether that move has to be a trade, or if it is giving them cap space to possibly sign a blockbuster free agent.

Also, Paxson said that Derrick Rose’s knee concerns are not serious. Vinny went down to Vegas to watch Rose play for the Select Team and thought Derrick looked great. It is just tendinitis in Derrick’s knee and there is nothing structurally wrong.

The interview can be listened to at ESPN1000.com.