Joakim Noah, one of the skilled big men in this year's free agency class, could find himself as a target of the Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs.
Noah could soon be an ex-Chicago Bull player when hits free agency this summer, with four rival teams reportedly interested in signing the 2014 Defensive Player of the Year. The Washington Wizards, New York Knicks, Minnesota Timberwolves and Milwaukee Bucks are all in pursuit of Noah, according to Sporting News' Mitch Lawrence.
While the aforementioned teams are all intriguing destinations for Noah, ESPN's Amin Elhassan believes the skillful big man would be a "perfect fit" for the Warriors and the Spurs.
The Warriors and Spurs both run very similar type of offenses that involve plenty of ball movements, which makes Noah a nice addition to either team. Noah has been known for his intensity on the defensive end and despite undergoing major surgery on his shoulder, he is still likely to display the same fire of anchoring a team's defense. But the more intriguing skillset the Warriors and Spurs could use from Noah is his excellent passing skills for a center.
Noah, who only played 29 games last season, averaged 4.3 points, 8.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists, while playing 21.9 minutes per game. The Warriors and Spurs could use these numbers, which could be a huge upgrade for either team's second unit.
Moreover, the Warriors and Spurs could offer Noah something the other four teams cannot offer. Win a championship.
Golden State and San Antonio disappointingly ended their postseason and many expect them to bounce back and become West's top contenders next season. Joining either the Warriors or Spurs could give Noah a great opportunity to play in the NBA Finals and win his first championship.
However, it would be tricky for the Warriors and Spurs to sign Noah if he plans to seek a max contract. Both teams have limited financial flexibility in the offseason, which means they would need to let go some of their own free agents or make trades to make a room for Noah.
But if winning is more important for Noah, he may start considering taking less money to join the Warriors or Spurs.