Joakim Noah (Photo : NBAE via Getty Images)
Rumors about Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah being unhappy with his reduced role in Fred Hoiberg's rotation have been buzzing around the league and speculations are hinting that the Chicago Bulls center could be heading to Oklahoma to reunite with his former head coach at the Florida Gators Billy Donovan.
It would just be a matter of time before Noah bolts out of the Bulls after losing his starting job and starting the season poorly with below career averages of 2.3 points and 6.5 rebounds in 20 minutes of playing time.
"Did he specifically say I want to come off the bench? No. Nobody wants to come off the bench, but it's the decision that we came up with," Hoiberg said, according to Kelly Dwyer of Yahoo Sports.
Despite missing only 15 games last season, Noah was clearly off of his usual production, which would probably had to do with the adjustments from playing alongside Pau Gasol. Noah has been the defensive anchor of the Bulls, but the 30-year-old big man could be heading out of the Wind City to play for a familiar person in Bricktown.
In an interview with ESPN's Nick Friedell, Noah revealed how he loved Donovan, now head coach of the OKC Thunder, as a head coach and a "father figure." The 2014 NBA Defensive Players of the Year winner even called his time with Donovan as "the best time of my life."
"I think Coach Donovan is somebody who cares about his players, but really cares about his guys," Noah said, when asked about what he learned most from Donovan during their days in the NCAA. "He's the best coach that I ever had."
Interestingly, when Friedell asked Noah if he ever thought of playing again for Donovan now that they are in the same league, the long-haired big man only has one word to say: stop.
However, Noah's response suggests so much than what the word intends to mean. The fact that Noah is displeased with his off-the-bench gig with the Bulls and pairing him with Taj Gibson instead of Pau Gasol could mean that "stop" could actually be another term for a reunion with Donovan.
Donovan finally jumped into the NBA to take command of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook after spending nine years coaching the Gators at the University of Florida.
It appears Donovan feels the same way about Noah, whom he coached for two years. Donovan lipped praise to Noah before their Nov. 6 matchup at the United Center, saying that former Gator stalwart is "one of the greatest teammates" he has ever had a chance to coach, reports News OK.
With their good relationship formed during their NCAA stint with the Gators, Noah could actually play well under Donovan's guide, although the pieces involving the trade could get tricky for both teams.
But according to Real GM, a trade to OKC would be possible for Noah if the players involved are Dion Waiters, Nick Collison, and Anthony Morrow.
Collison and Morrow are seldom used in Donovan's new rotation. Collison, who are posting below career averages of 1.0 point and 2.5 rebounds in six games, has been getting minutes behind a more effective Steven Adams, while Morrow has yet to make a significant leap in his career as a Thunder.
Waiters is the only one among the three that has been rolling, playing 26.2 in six games while averaging 6.8 points and 4.5 rebounds.
Collison could serve as backup four or five for the Bulls, while Morrow and Waiters could spend some minutes as relievers to Jimmy Butler.
Noah, on the other hand, would be a major upgrade in the center position, believing that he becomes more effective in playing five than the four spot.
If Noah continues to be displeased in his current situation with the Bulls and Hoiberg, a lineup of him, Westbrook, Durant, and Serge Ibaka could happen sooner or later.
