Taj Gibson (Photo : REUTERS)
As the Chicago Bulls look to put more emphasis on spacing and three-point shooting under new head coach Fred Hoiberg next season, Taj Gibson has suddenly become a bad fit in Windy City. Fortunately for the Bulls, clearing out a logjam up front won't be that complicating because once a top-level talent like Gibson hits the trade market, suitors are expected to line up for his service.
According to Bleacher Report columnist Dan Favale, the 30-year old Gibson is one of several players who need to find a new home before the offseason comes to a close.
Gibson has been a fan-favorite in Chicago for the past several years, providing the team toughness and energy off the bench. He averaged 9.2 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 24 minutes per game while shooting 49 percent from the field over six seasons with the Bulls.
His numbers (10.3 ppg and 6.4 rpg in 27 minutes per game) dropped a bit last season, no thanks to the arrival of Pau Gasol and Nikola Mirotic. Favale believed Gibson's production is bound to drop even further, if he still ends up on the Bulls roster this October.
Under Hoiberg, the Bulls are expected to blitz their opponents with a fast-paced offense and position-less basketball - which is the same tactics the Golden State Warriors employed to win the title last season.
Although Gibson is a high-energy player and very agile at his size, he's not capable of providing the three-point shooting the system is demanding from a power forward. To make Hoiberg's offensive scheme work, he would need sweet shooting big man, also known as Stretch Four, who can attract defense towards them and knock down shots beyond the arc. This reason alone makes Gibson a bad fit.
"Taj Gibson just doesn't fit the power forward mold under new head coach Fred Hoiberg. He doesn't shoot threes, and while he can spend time jumping center, the Bulls still have both Pau Gasol and Joakim Noah in their employ," Favale stressed.
Gibson is coming off a minor arthroscopic left knee surgery and will miss at least four months. However, this setback won't have much impact on his value if he ever hits the trade market. When healthy and given enough playing time, Gibson is easily one of the most underrated power forwards in the game, capable of putting up double-double numbers on any given nights.
Teams in need of frontcourt depth like the Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers, and the Toronto Raptors are expected to make a play for Gibson, who is pocketing a reasonable $8 million per year. With the Bulls set to go over the tax threshold after signing Jimmy Butler to a five-year, $95 million deal, they may opt for some tax relief by unloading Gibson's contract off the books.
