According to a poll Comcast SportsNet conducted after the Bulls/Magic game last night, Bulls fans feel John Paxson should make Ben Gordon a priority in the offseason. Obviously, these results weren’t based on last night, when the guard scored three points after 18 minutes of playing time in a 104-84 loss. But it is interesting to note that Gordon, who turned down a reported $50 million contract over the summer and went from being a starter to bench player, is still one of the team’s most popular players.

           Creating offense is one of the team’s major problems, and Gordon the only player on the team that has the ability to get hot hand and can score 20 points in a flash. In his freshman year three years ago, he became the only rookie to earn the Sixth Man award because he was able to light up in the fourth quarter. That fourth quarter magic disappeared a little, but is still there when the team needs it.

           There are a few players in the league that can create a spark off the bench like Gordon can. All players want to start, but some of Gordon’s best offensive games came from the bench (39 points vs. Magic on 12/31, 27 points vs. Piston on 3/10). His production decreased after Larry Hughes was acquired, but he did get his touch back in early March. According to the Comcast text message poll, fans didn’t think Hughes was a priority.

           So if Gordon really means what he says and just wants to do whatever he can to get the team to win, and if he really does want to stay in Chicago, both camps should strive to come to a reasonable agreement. Gordon should also keep in mind that his value has decreased substantionally from a year ago because of the team’s poor performance and that Chicago just may be the best place for him next year.

           The team had many holes to fill last offseason, and this year, those holes became ditches after the team posted a 31-49 record, with two more games to go. Its influx of guards is definitely a concern as well as key to when pursuing trades this summer. After last year’s playoff run highlighted by a sweep of the defending champions Miami Heat, Paxson refused to make any major moves because he didn’t want lose any of his core players. While this season proves everyone, including Gordon, is dispensable, Paxson shouldn’t be as hasty, as he was careful, last year.