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NBA Rumors: Where Should Joakim Noah Land In Free Agency

By Maxwell Ogden

Nov 3, 2015; Charlotte, NC, USA; Chicago Bulls forward center Joakim Noah (13) complains about a foul call against him during the second half of the game against the Charlotte Hornets at Time Warner Cable Arena. Hornets win 130-105. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 3, 2015; Charlotte, NC, USA; Chicago Bulls forward center Joakim Noah (13) complains about a foul call against him during the second half of the game against the Charlotte Hornets at Time Warner Cable Arena. Hornets win 130-105. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 7, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Chicago Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau talks to Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah (13) during the second quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: John Geliebter-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 7, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Chicago Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau talks to Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah (13) during the second quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: John Geliebter-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Minnesota Timberwolves

In the short-term, the Minnesota Timberwolves wouldn’t give Joakim Noah his best opportunity to win a championship. Minnesota is coached by Tom Thibodeau, however, and Thibodeau was Noah’s coach for five years in Chicago.

Noah and Thibodeau have a great relationship, and it stands to reason that the two sides will, at least, consider a reunion.

Minnesota is building around perimeter players Ricky Rubio, Andrew Wiggins, and Zach LaVine, and interior force Karl-Anthony Towns. Towns and Wiggins won the past two Rookie of the Year awards, LaVine has all-time explosiveness, and Rubio is a borderline elite on-ball defender.

Noah could step in and fill the role of the starting center if Towns were to play the 4.

Noah has a shaky relationship with Kevin Garnett, who was his favorite player growing up, but quickly became a rival. If Thibodeau can mend fences, however, he could reunite with his former anchor, and bring Garnett and Noah together.

It’s all on paper, for now, but good luck scoring against a defensive interior that’s built around Towns and Noah.

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