Chicago Bulls: Will Joakim Noah Be Traded?
Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah has found himself on the NBA trade rumor mill.
That time of year is upon us again, and no I am not referring to Christmas. NBA trade rumors have begun to run wild and while not every piece of information out there should be taken into consideration, it is good to remember one thing: sometimes where there is smoke, there is fire.
Chicago Bulls big man Joakim Noah has had a rather interesting season so far. Removed from the starting lineup in order to come off of the bench behind newbie Nikola Mirotic, Noah’s numbers have drastically dropped from year’s past.
As he was once putting up the likes of 12.6 points, 11.3 rebounds and 5.4 assists a game, currently he is only averaging 3.7 points, 8.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists per matchup.
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And his decline goes beyond just numbers. Although teammate Derrick Rose was always the star of the show, Noah was still a prominent figure of the franchise. Often chosen to represent the team in various capacities, the fans showed nothing but love. But as Noah’s inconsistency has gotten the best of him, that has all recently changed.
Therefore, it is not at all shocking to hear the center’s name coming up in trade rumors around the league.
It is true that Noah is still a major part of the heart and soul of the team. He is a leader, and a valuable presence in the locker room. But do the cons outweigh the pros at this point? Some say yes.
For one, his contract situation puts him in prime position to be moved.
With his $13.4 million deal coming to a close and Pau Gasol hinting that he may be opting out of his contract this summer, the Bulls could certainly be thinking of a way to bring other talent on board.
On top of that, there is an argument to be made that perhaps with Noah out of the way, more players such as rookie Bobby Portis, can get a chance to shine.
At this point, there are no solid leads regarding where and how Noah could be traded. However, there are a handful of speculations.
Three weeks ago, it was reported that the Dallas Mavericks may be interested in the 30-year-old. After failing to acquire DeAndre Jordan, and snagging Zaza Pachulia and JaVale McGee instead, the Mavericks still need a dominant force to work alongside Dirk Nowitzki.
Noah has also been linked with the Sacramento Kings, by way of DeMarcus Cousins. While the Kings claim they have no intention of parting ways with Cousins, it is no secret that he and head coach George Karl do not really get along. On top of that, although he is still quite productive on both ends of the floor, Cousins is still shooting a career-low 42.1 percent from the field.
In the end, it will probably come down to two things: money and playing time.
Since Noah’s deal is expiring, it will certainly be somewhat of a numbers game. Having been in the league via a large-market organization like Chicago for the last eight years, Noah is used to being paid well. And in the past, that was for good reason. For example, in 2013-14 he was the Defensive Player of the Year.
However, contract negotiations may end up going a little differently this time around, if he continues to play in the same mediocre fashion.
Regardless of the money being offered up though, Noah may be able to find himself seeing a lot more time on the court via another team. And while at the start of the season he alluded to having no problem with his new role, since then it has come out that the former superstar may not be happy taking a backseat to the action.
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So, should he stay or should he go? Where would you like to see Noah next year?