Bulls OK with loss of Gordon

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The Bulls will wait until Ben Gordon’s signing with the Pistons becomes official July 8 to comment publicly on the departure of their leading scorer for the last four seasons.

It might be a short statement thanking Gordon for his five-season tenure. Perhaps it will be something lengthier and more dramatic, befitting the scorer’s ability for hitting clutch shots.

Whatever is said, know this: The Bulls know what they have lost. And while appreciative of Gordon’s professionalism and abilities, they’re OK with it.

With a renewed emphasis internally on defense, Kirk Hinrich became more valuable in management’s eyes. John Salmons, who is 3 inches taller, should slide into Gordon’s vacated starting shooting guard slot.

And the Bulls’ massive salary cap relief of approximately $25 million remains intact for the 2009-10 season.

As expected, Gordon’s departure dramatically polarized opinion of Bulls fans, some of whom regarded the scorer as the perfect complement to Derrick Rose and others who focused on his shaky decision-making and defense.

Gordon clearly represented the Bulls’ best outside shooter and space-the-floor complement to Rose. But Salmons’ strong finish, Hinrich’s resurgence in a reserve role and a projected healthy Luol Deng has management convinced the Bulls can withstand that loss in the short-term.

If none of, say, Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade or even Joe Johnson ends up in a Bulls uniform sometime during 2010, the second-guessing of Gordon’s departure will begin in earnest.

The loss of Gordon does make the Bulls’ decision to draft forwards James Johnson and Taj Gibson curious.

As of now, the roster lists Rose, Hinrich and Salmons – whose natural position is probably small forward – as the team’s only guards.

It’s just the reality the Bulls will have to face: With so little room under the projected luxury-tax line, the Bulls will remain thin at that position.

Hinrich doesn’t like coming off the bench but is too professional to complain publicly. But he will play a lot.

Kind of like Gordon did as a sixth man.

Soon enough, Gordon’s Sixth Man of the Year trophy from 2005 will rest on a mantle in Michigan. The memories will have to suffice.