Mike, there is no question in my mind the Bulls will miss Ben Gordon and his 20-plus points a game. One huge difference between Gordon and the other guards was he was very good at creating his own shot and scoring in bunches, something that became important in the playoffs, where he upped his scoring average to around 24 points a game.

There's something else to keep in mind before we cavalierly say, ''Well, he didn't play well on defense, and his shooting percentage could have been higher.'' For two straight years, the Bulls placed deals on the table reported to be in the $10 million-a-year range, and he didn't accept them.

Now, the last time I checked, you don't offer that kind of deal to a player you don't need. This offseason, as Gordon said and chairman Jerry Reinsdorf recently confirmed, the Bulls took their offers off the table. So, Gordon signed a reported five-year, $55 million deal with the division rival Detroit Pistons.

Gordon's new deal is worth about $1 million dollars more per season than those offered by the Bulls . The real twist is that both he and the Bulls would have been better off if he had taken an earlier proposal from the team that spent a lottery pick on him. Now he goes to a team with less upside and a city that has fallen on hard times.

It recently has been said that the Bulls don't need Gordon now that John Salmons is aboard along with Derrick Rose and Kirk Hinrich. That's a nice three-guard rotation, no doubt. The problem is, the Bulls now find themselves short-handed off the bench. I don't know if the recently re-acquired Jannero Pargo or aging veteran Lindsey Hunter will be able to take on the task of big minutes if they are forced to because of injury.

This is one of those situations where both sides would have been better off coming together rather than going their separate ways. Mark it down, Gordon will be missed. I know I'm right.

SHARPSHOOTER GORDON WASN'T ABOUT WINNING

by Mike North

Dan, the anchor is gone. No, not the anchor of the Bulls , the anchor around our necks.

Ben Gordon turned down two contract offers by the Bulls . He tried to salvage the last one, but the Bulls said that the train had left the station.

And lo and behold, the chairman himself, Jerry Reinsdorf, said the other day that the Bulls were happy with their guard setup of Derrick Rose, Kirk Hinrich and John Salmons.

And that with the addition of Jannero Pargo, Gordon would have trouble getting a lot of minutes on his guard-heavy squad. That was a direct shot at Gordon because after he signed with the Pistons, Gordon said in effect that the Bulls weren't about winning.

Well, we will find out. When I think of Ben Gordon, I don't think about winning, playoffs or All Star teams. I think about shots, points and selfishness.

No doubt Ben could shoot, but that's where the story ends. He didn't play defense, couldn't rebound and for a guard was a below average ball handler.

To be offered that kind of money and turn it down -- oh, well, enjoy Detroit. Sometimes it's time for a change of scenery. I know this: I haven't heard a lot of crying from the public about the loss.

Now I will tell you this: I wish Ben no ill will, except when he plays the Bulls . But the fact is, his act had grown tired here.

I don't even think it was about wins and losses anymore. He wanted to start, didn't like coming off the bench and at times didn't play within the offense.

The Bulls will make the playoffs, and Ben will be watching at home in the great city of Detroit -- and I'm right.

WHO'S RIGHT?

Jiggetts or North? What do you think? Vote and comment at www.suntimes.com/sports.