Wild rumors have emerged that Chicago Bulls' resident center Joakim Noah could join the Golden State Warriors next season as he is set to exit the only team he had known professionally due to "trust issues" with current management.
The 31-year-old veteran big man had been with the Bulls for all the nine seasons of his professional career since he was drafted ninth overall by the club during the 2007 NBA Draft. He had been a two-time All-Star and an NBA Defensive Player of the Year awardee in 2014 as well as being in the All-NBA First Team during that year.
He was also a two-time NBA All-Defensive First Teamer, an NBA All-Defensive Second Teamer, and a J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award receiver, which makes him one of the most well-liked basketball players in Chicago for a number of years now.
Noah had also been one of the major driving forces of the Bulls in their eight-straight playoff appearances from 2008 to 2015 with his tenacious defense, steadfast energy, and vocal leadership.
However, with Chicago unable to qualify in the playoffs this year and rumors of internal strife within management and the players, speculations abound that Noah is intending to leave the franchise this summer when he becomes an unrestricted free agent.
The Chicago Sun-Times reported that Noah had told an unknown teammate that he is "done with the organization" and that he "has no trust in the front office getting this in the right direction".
Noah is said to be particularly turned off by general manager Gar Forman, who is allegedly mishandling his relationship with the players especially now that his hire, Fred Hoiberg, is the head coach of the squad.
The report said "that there seems to be a complete mistrust multiple players have toward" Forman, something that former bench boss Tom Thibodeau was able to handle.
Meanwhile, Fansided's Maxwell Ogden suggested the Golden State Warriors as a possible free agent destination for Noah in the offseason.
As shown in the ongoing West Finals, the Warriors are definitely lacking stable big men, particularly at the center position, and Noah could contribute a lot to the defending champs when it comes to that.
Ogden said that if Golden State could snag Noah this summer, then "it could revitalize the defense and build the best passing interior in the NBA".