With things seemingly going so well, is it possible Gordon could re-sign with the Bulls when he becomes an unrestricted free agent next summer?

"I'm not ruling anything out at all," Gordon said before the Bulls' 115-109 overtime victory over the Clippers on Wednesday night. "My focus right now is to play well, help the team win games and stay healthy. That's a long time from now. But I've always said I'm happy here, and that hasn't changed."

The popular belief when Gordon didn't sign the Bulls' long-standing offer of six years and roughly $54 million last summer was that Gordon would be as good as gone next summer because of bitterness or lingering bad feelings.

Gordon quickly dismisses such talk.

"I never felt I shouldn't do my job because something didn't go my way," Gordon said. "We're all human. As much as you sometimes might want to take it personal, you have to realize it's business.

"I've learned more and more every year and the business aspect is easier to deal with. When you're on the court, everything goes out the window."

Gordon, who earlier had turned down the Bulls' five-year, $50 million offer during summer 2007, is savvy enough to know the team's glut at guard has been alleviated by Kirk Hinrich's thumb injury. But he also never has wavered from his vow to remain professional and scoffed at anyone who doubted the legitimacy of his toe injury during training camp.

"That's amazing because throughout my career I've never had any issues, never been that kind of player," Gordon said. "To me, it's a slap in the face that people would take a shot."

The Bulls' 2009 off-season plans are not known, other than the obvious.

"Our goal will be to try to build with Derrick in mind and what fits him," general manager John Paxson said.

Gordon's stance is a far cry from Aug. 15 when, in a rare dropping of his guard, he unleashed some frustration while speaking at a charity function in New York.

"I'm definitely not taking [the qualifying offer]," Gordon said then. "That's not an option."

Gordon, a restricted free agent with no leverage, also hinted about having played his last game for the Bulls then.

He eventually signed the $6.4 million qualifying offer and again is playing with the calm poise -- almost detachment -- that has defined his five seasons in Chicago.

"I've always been like that, never really overreacted to anything," Gordon said. "Sometimes it hurts me because I don't have the reaction I need to have because I'm so even-keel. Sometimes, it's a really good thing.

"In this instance, it's helped a lot. I'm not taking anything personally. I'm just going out and playing and trying to help the team win, definitely make the playoffs. That's what I'm used to with this team. I'd like it to happen again."

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2: Games in which Derrick Rose has failed to score in double figures. After suffering through his worst shooting game Tuesday night in Charlotte, going 3-for-16, Rose missed his first four shots Wednesday against the Clippers.

kcjohnson@tribune.com

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