Joakim Noah (Photo : Reuters/Dennis Wierzbicki)
As Chicago Bulls try to find a 'new identity' following the firing of Tom Thibodeau from head coaching duty, more changes could happen over the coming weeks, with the possibility of a big trade that could involve some of the big name on that roster - including All-Star center Joakim Noah.
Thibodeau, who amassed the second best winning regular-season percentage at .647 percent - just behind the great Phil Jackson - in Bulls history, was officially sacked on Thursday after failing again to guide the team deep into the postseason.
While he managed to keep the Bulls in the postseason in each of the five years despite not having Rose around most of the time because of injuries, his failure to push the Bulls past the Eastern Conference, especially his struggle in beating a LeBron James - was believed to have cost him the job.
With Thibs' departure, Bulls general manager Gar Forman believed a change in approach is now necessary to keep the team on track of their championship goals. This change might not only be limited to the coaching staff and the philosophy of the team. It may also refer to the players as well.
"But as we looked ahead and evaluated how we as a team and an organization could continue to grow and improve, we believed a change in approach was needed," Forman wrote in the issued statement.
With their payroll projected to reach roughly $62 million (per Hoopshype Salary), the Bulls don't have much leverage to improve their roster through free-agency. Jimmy Butler, the reigning Most Improved Player of the Year, could make things more complicating for the Bulls, with multiple teams determined to snag the two-way player with an outrageous max deal offer.
Perhaps, the Bulls' only shot at improving their lineup will hinge on the trading block. While there will be no shortage of suitors for the likes of Derrick Rose, Taj Gibson, and Nikola Mirotic, the Bulls may not be too inclined to part ways with these players who are still at the peak of their primes. However, that might not be the case for Joakim Noah, who is coming off a subpar 2014-15 season.
After winning the Defensive Player of the Year and making it in both All-NBA and All-Defensive first team selection two years ago, Noah looked like a shell of his old self, as he averaged 7.2 points, 9.6 rebounds, 1.1 blocks while shooting 44 percent from the field (ESPN/Stats).
As the Bulls look to move on from a defensive-oriented identity, Noah might see his role diminish next season. The presence of Pau Gasol, who is locked in for two more seasons at $7 million per year, would make Noah dispensable because he can move to his comfortable position at center, while Gibson and Mirotic will alternately play at the four. In addition, Noah will enter the final year of his contract worth $13.4MM. Trading him now seems to be a smart move than taking the risk of losing him to free-agency in 2016.
