Joakim Noah (Photo : NBAE via Getty Images)
The latest reports about Joakim Noah have confused the public on his free agency destination.
On one hand, there is the Sun Times piece by Joe Cowley which stated that "Noah has been telling teammates in recent weeks that he was done with the organization once free agency begins, and 'has no trust in the front office getting this in the right direction,' according to a Bulls player."
The Bulls player also explained that Noah did not elaborate on whether his issue was connected with the tension that involved between him and Coach Fred Hoiberg early in the season. Hoiberg took Noah out of the starting five.
The unnamed source did say "that there seems to be a complete mistrust multiple players have toward general manager Gar Forman, with Noah leading that charge."
However, this was disputed by Noah's agent, Bill Duffy has disputed these allegations as he was quoted on a series of tweets from KC Johnson of the Chicago Tribune.
Bill Duffy, Noah's agent: "Joakim and I speak on daily about his future. There has been zero indication he doesn't wish to return to Bulls."
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) May 25, 2016
Bill Duffy, Joakim Noah's agent: "Joakim has great respect for the city, the fans and the organization." — K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) May 25, 2016
Nevertheless, there are already discussions on possible destinations for the French center at Fansided. Some of the teams mentioned are the Minnesota Timberwolves, Orlando Magic and Portland Trailblazers.
The Timberwolves connection is easy to establish because of the Tom Thibodeau ties. Noah flourished as a player under Thibs and he would be a great mentor to Karl Anthony Towns.
"Noah could start for the 2016-17 Timberwolves or at worst be a focal point in Thibodeau's eight-man rotation. Since the star players on Minnesota are still under contract on their rookie deals, the Timberwolves front office can overpay to land Noah on their team," Fansided's John Buhler wrote.
The Orlando Magic is a team that may shift its focus on defense following the recent hiring of former Indiana Pacers coach Frank Vogel. The young Orlando team is short of players who concentrate on defense. Noah's versatility can allow him to play alongside Nik Vucevic.
Plus, Vogel is one of the league's best at coaching big men. Roy Hibbert and David West played their best years under him.
The Portland Trailblazers was the league's pleasant surprise this season. They managed to reach the second round of the playoffs when critics wrote them off after they lost four of their five starters.
This is an organization that has a strong basketball culture and a solid record on player development. Coach Terry Stotts has also done a very good job and was a legitimate candidate for Coach of the Year.
Noah could thrive in this environment along with two explosive guards and young athletic big men. They might need another piece to be certified contenders but Noah on the Blazers is a great fit as it is.
