Joakim Noah (Photo : NBAE via Getty Images)
The Chicago Bulls are a team allegedly missing their identity. Trading one of their cornerstones may finally redefine them.
Just how much does a coaching change define a team? The Chicago Bulls are struggling with the transition from defensive minded Tom Thibodeau to Fred Hoiberg and they may have to let go of who's slowing them down.
Trade rumor regulars Taj Gibson and Joakim Noah have been placed on the block, according to the Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports in his podcast (h/t NBC).
"Executives around the league, and people have told me, that the Bulls are very determined to add a talented wing player... and I've been told that the Bulls are open to...whether it's Joakim Noah,Taj Gibson...maybe not both of them, but either of them if there's a deal out there that they can bring in the best possible wing player available, they're open to it... They need more shooting." Wojnarowski said.
It seems predictable now, looking at the Bulls roster, there is a glut of big men and a shortage of wings. The combination of Pau Gasol and Joakim Noah as an offense-defense combo would have been lethal a few years ago, but the way the game is played now (and the Bulls decision to replace Thibs with Hoiberg means they also want to play that game), it's all about the wings.
However, as Blog A Bull points out, the Bulls are not really a trading team."They don't make trades, especially for actual rotation players. It's easy to see a scenario where they look around but can't find a deal that's an absolute no-brainer so they'll stand pat."
The podcast was held before Noah recently got injured again, and this may hamper the Bulls' effort.
