Joakim Noah is another NBA player expected to have a busy offseason as he looks for a new lucrative deal. He joins a long list of free agents and the only thing certain right now it is that he will not be returning to his old team, the Chicago Bulls.
The Chicago Sun-Times reported that Noah had already told his teammates that he is done with the Chicago Bulls, something that doesn’t come much of a surprise. Though his recent years showed a lot of struggles, it is his strained relationship with management that is standing out as the prime reason.
To be precise, Noah’s relationship with general manager Gar Forman is the one seen as the likely reason behind his departure. Noah is one of many players who hold a complete mistrust against Forman which technically ties up head coach Fred Hoiberg.
“They might not be as tight as everyone, including Gar, thinks,’’ said a league source.
Compared to former coach Tom Thibodeau, Hoiberg lacks the ‘shield’ that somehow safeguards the players. Noah was not exactly in good standing with Hoiberg, particularly in the area of playing time and his role on the team.
The Joakim Noah and Fred Hoiberg drama seemed to have been settled with Noah slowly syncing in. All that came to a sorry end with Noah taken out of the season due to injury.
Moving forward, it will be interesting which team will land Noah. The Los Angeles Lakers are of course an option or even the New York Knicks. Most NBA teams are aware of what Noah brings to a team despite the fact he will be coming off injury.
Talks between Noah and the Bulls remain positive per ESPN. But the fact remains that it doesn’t touch on the fact of what burden the 31-year-old bruiser is carrying, something that seems irreparable at this point.
