Joakim Noah (Photo : Getty Images)
The Miami Heat and the Minnesota Timberwolves could appear as two of the favorites to sign Chicago Bulls backup center Joakim Noah in free agency.
Noah, after spending all of his nine-year NBA career with the Bulls, is expected to leave Chicago this summer to explore free agency following a decline in his role with the team during the 2015-2016 regular season. According to the latest buzz around the league, the Heat and Wolves could be the top destinations for the former Defensive Player of the Year.
Palm Beach Post's Anthony Chiang explored the idea of the Heat pursuing Noah in July, with Miami bracing themselves for Hassan Whiteside's decision this summer.
Whiteside is expected to receive max offers from other NBA teams, giving the uncertainty of whether the Heat could bring him back, especially with Miami only having limited money to spend and possibly listing soon-to-be free agent Dwyane wade as the team's priority. If the Heat fail at retaining their rising star center, Noah could be an intriguing alternative for the three-time NBA champs.
According to KC Johnson of the Chicago Tribune, Noah is looking for a team who could give him back a starting role and a chance to win a championship. If the Heat are able to re-sign key free agents and presumably let Whiteside walk away, they could offer Noah a chance to start and win a championship.
However, Noah's health and durability could be a red flag for the Heat, with the Bulls center coming off a shoulder injury. There is also a dip in Noah's performance this season, partly because of his diminished role with the Bulls, playing only 29 games, while averaging 4.3 points and 8.8 rebounds per contest.
Meanwhile, another team that may intrigue Noah is the Timberwolves, who have hired former Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau.
Noah and Thibs spent five seasons together in Chicago, and during those times, the former flourished under the latter's helm, averaging career double-doubles in points and rebounds. According to Sporting News' Mitch Lawrence, there is a chance Noah and Thibodeau could have a reunion in Minnesota.
"League sources tell Sporting News that Thibodeau has targeted Joakim Noah, who is an unrestricted free agent and has interest in leaving Chicago and re-joining Thibodeau. When they were together in Chicago, Noah developed and thrived under Thibodeau, finishing fourth in the MVP voting in 2013-14," Lawrence wrote.
Playing for Thibodeau again in another team, would give Noah a fresh start and an opportunity to rekindle his career under the tutelage of a very familiar person. However, Noah would likely end up as a backup center with the Wolves, who seems committed in developing young talents in Karl Anthony Towns and Gorgui Dieng.
Moreover, the Wolves are not projected to become immediate title contenders unless they sign one of the top free agents this summer, or trade for a veteran star who could instantly make an impact to the team.
Despite Noah's lackluster display this past season, there would probably still be a handful of teams interested to acquire him. Considering his setbacks in the past years, Noah it would be a risk for a team like the Wolves and Heat to sign him unless he becomes available for a low price.
