Joakim Noah (Photo : Reuters/Dennis Wierzbicki)
The Chicago Bulls found themselves at the crossroads after getting another playoff spanking at the hands of LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. For CSN Chicago writer Mark Schanowski, this latest playoff disappointment could not only spell the end of Tom Thibodeau’s era with the Bulls but of Joakim Noah’s as well.
The Bulls will enter a tedious offseason expected to be marred with changes both on the coaching ranks and its roster.
Thibodeau, who guided the Windy City ballclub to five consecutive postseason appearances despite dealing with myriad of injuries, will likely be sacked at any given day after repeatedly failing to give the city its first championship since Michael Jordan bagged his sixth ring in 1998.
However, Schanowski thinks it’s not only Thibs whose future with the team is on the bubble. He believed Noah’s shellacking performance throughout the playoffs could make him an odd man out in the team’s future plans.
“But here's where it gets tough. What can the Bulls realistically expect to get out of Joakim Noah next season in the final year of his contract, and might they be better off to explore trade possibilities to avoid a potentially awkward situation when Noah hits free agency in the summer of 2016?”
One year removed from his best season when he bagged the Defensive Player of the Year plum and selection to first All-Defensive and All-NBA team, the 30-year old Noah was a shell of his old self, as he averaged 7.2 points, 9.6 rebounds, 1.1 blocks while shooting 45 percent from the field in 30 minutes per game during the 2014-15 season.
Noah will enter the final year of his contract that pays him well above $13 million next season. While he’s still at the peak of his prime, there’s no telling if he can still provide the same impact he once had two seasons ago. For these reasons, Schanowski suggested that trading Noah might be ideal to ensure the team’s stability in the future.
The Bulls beat writer thinks the Oklahoma City Thunder, which recently hired Noah’s former college coach Bill Donovan, could be an intriguing destination for the ex-Gators standout.
“So, why not reunite Donovan with the guy who helped him win a pair of NCAA championships at Florida? If he's healthy, Noah might be able to provide some of the leadership and intangible qualities Oklahoma City has been missing over the last few seasons since making the Finals in 2012.”
“Kanter is a restricted free agent who will be looking for a starting salary upwards of $10 million a season. Given that OKC already has two other young big men in Steven Adams and Mitch McGary, the Thunder might be willing to give up Kanter in a Noah deal.”
There’s no denying Noah has been the hardest working player on the Bulls roster. Driven by his incredible intensity and passion for the game, he has served as the heart and soul of the team the past few seasons.
Unfortunately, the physicality of his play has also dealt him injuries that are slowly taking its toll on his body. It might be hard to see Noah playing for another team, but the Bulls will not hesitate pulling off a move that will make the team better.
