GORDON SIGNS UP
07/07/2008 Chicago Bull's & NBA guard Ben Gordon returns necessary paperwork to GB officials including copies of his British passport.

Ben Gordon has signed up to play for the Great Britain team this summer - but his presence in the European Championships still depends on on-going contract talks with the Chicago Bulls.

Last week, Gordon, 25, returned the necessary paperwork to GB officials including copies of his British passport.

And that meant that the Chicago Bulls guard was among the long list of names that officials from governing body BPB registered with FIBA at the start of this week - a list from which coach Chris Finch will chose his squad for the qualifiers.

But while Gordon's prompt response and obvious willingness to assist BPB is being taken as a positive sign, the guard's contract talks present a major stumbling block to him making his GB debut in September.

Gordon has remained consistent throughout negotiations with GB, stating that he will only play if he has signed a long-term deal, either with the Bulls or a rival team.

Last week Gordon opened talks with the Bulls, as did his potential GB team mate Luol Deng, and Chicago GM John Paxson has made sorting out the Brit pair his priority.

However, sources in Chicago claim that the most likely outcome is that Gordon will just sign a one year "tender" with Chicago this summer - a step that would allow him to become an unrestricted free agent one year from now.

And if Gordon does choose that route, that will rule him out of playing for GB because of the risk involved in playing competitive basketball with such a short-term deal in hand.

Finch said: "Ben has been consistent throughout in all his dealings with us and the important thing is he is going to play for us eventually.

"Obviously, we would like him to play this summer but if he signs a one-year deal he will have a lot to lose if he gets injured. We remain in constant contact with him and all we can do now is wait on him and the contract situation."

Ian Whittell for 24/7