The Chicago Bulls will look to rebuild next summer to fit the new system Fred Hoiberg has put in place. With the front office sitting on their hands for the better part of last summer, Hoiberg has essentially place a system for players who’ve been handpicked for Tom Thibodeau’s system. With a few expiring contracts coming to an end in the summer, the Bulls will have a ton of room for flexibility to help build a roster for the current coaching staff.
As the Chicago Bulls have reduced Joakim Noah’s role to a reserve player, the chances of Noah leaving Chicago for a bigger contract is more likely to happen. It’s not to say Noah won’t stick around in Chicago, but it’s clear Hoiberg wants him as a reserve player. Noah might not like the offer the Bulls could throw his way in free agency. Noah, age 30, could be has last chance to earn a big paycheck.
With Taj Gibson and Nikola Mirotic tied to the Bulls, Pau Gasol has a chance to exercise his player option to become a free agent. Gasol, age 35, took a massive pay-cut to join the Bulls two seasons ago at a three-year $22 million deal to win a championship. With Gasol’s days being limited in the NBA, he may choose to leave Chicago for a better situation.
Queue in unrestricted 2016 NBA Center free agents. First up: Al Jefferson. A highly talented big man with moves that will give you nostalgia of the 1990s when big men played the paint. However, Jefferson is known to be a “ball stopper” in the paint. With Hoiberg’s chance of building a roster for his system, he’ll probably stay clear of a player that slows down the offensive pace.
Not many marquee free agents leave their warm cities to join the Chicago Bulls, at least not many in recent history. However, with the Bulls potentially thinning down the front-court, they might make a phone call to Hassan Whiteside this summer with a generous offer. Whiteside, age 26, has had an up-and-down career to say the least. Nonetheless, Whiteside has made a name for himself out of nothing, similar to Jimmy Butler’s path to success. Whiteside is averaging 15.3 points per game and nearly 12 rebounds per game going into Thursday night’s matchup against the Utah Jazz.
If Joakim Noah and Pau Gasol decide to leave for either more money or better chance at winning a championship, the Bulls would desperately need to address the Center position. With the free agent list for big men thinner than recent past, the Bulls would need to go all out for Hassan Whiteside, despite his sketchy future.
To go along with the Center position, the Bulls will have their best chance to address the small-forward position at a cheap bargain. Nicholas Batum, Luol Deng, Evan Turner, Jeff Green, and Joe Johnson will all be unrestricted free agents in 2016, and none of them are projected to sign big contracts.
