Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah. (Photo : Getty Images)
There had been conflicting reports about the Washington Wizards supposedly planning to offer Joakim Noah a maximum salary contract when the Chicago Bulls center officially becomes a free agent this July 1st.
Noah, who turned 31 last February, had just finished the final season of his five-year, $60 million contract with the Bulls and is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. Rumors were out that the former Florida standout is ready to receive offers from interested teams as he is planning to exit Chicago after being out of place in new head coach Fred Hoiberg's system last season.
The two-time NBA All-Star had spent the entire 2015-2016 season coming off the bench for the first time in his nine-year professional career as Hoiberg favored Spanish big man Pau Gasol to start at center spot more than the 2014 NBA Defensive Player of the Year awardee. Earlier reports said that Noah was the one who volunteered to come off the bench, but the former All-NBA First Teamer had since denied them.
With that, speculations emerged that the rift between the two parties, particularly between Noah and Bulls general manager Gar Forman, had grown bigger and so an impending separation is about to happen during this offseason.
CBS Washington had recently reported that the Wizards are the "leading contenders" to sign Noah in free-agency as the team is "willing to offer Noah a max deal, which could reach $120 million over four seasons", a significant increase in what he earned during his time with the Bulls.
With the Wizards already planning a max deal for shooting Bradley Beal as well, the report noted that it could be an indication that Washington will not try to pursue hometown hero Kevin Durant anymore as the team is said to have only two spots for max players.
Meanwhile, SB Nation indicated that Washington "won't be offering Joakim Noah a max deal" as the center is already "31 and missed most of last season with injuries". Noah played in only 29 games last season, starting in two, and had averaged 4.3 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 3.8 assists. His 4.3 points per game average is a career-low, including his first two seasons in the league.
The Wizards are still believed to pursue Noah this summer but not for the max deal and could be "a second-week signee, after the market settles and a more realistic price can be arranged for him".
