Chicago Bulls Rumors: Reasons Taj Gibson Should Stay
By Ronald Agers
Well Pippen Peoples, Pippen Ain’t Easy is back once again with Chicago Bulls Rumors! This segment is all about Taj Gibson all the time. Based on how the preseason has gone with the lack of production from Tony Snell and the free agent signing of Pau Gasol, the Bulls might be using Taj Gibson as trade bait. The Bulls need someone at the wing to run with Derrick Rose. With that being said the Bulls may feel that they have enough bodies in the frontcourt to make Taj Gibson expendable.
What’s the scenario?
Pippen Ain’t Easy has gone into depth with the possible move to acquire Kevin Martin from Minnesota for Mike Dunleavy and Tony Snell. But for this trade to go down in my opinion, Taj Gibson would have to be Minnesota’s prized acquisition.
Scouring the internet, I heard of another player that is in the mix. Lately the name Avery Bradley has come up…
Really?
Here’s what Yannis Koutroupis of Basketball Insiders had to say about both players…
"“I think it’s time to move Taj Gibson to get some more fire power out on the wing, where I feel they are lacking, around Derrick Rose. His value around the league is greater than it is for the Bulls right now. Kevin Martin would work this year, but he’s 31 and has three years on his deal at $7 million per. It’s a bad long-term move for the Bulls, especially considering his lackluster defensive abilities, lack of playoff experience and injury history– although in his defense he’s missed very little time the last two seasons. I’d like to see Avery Bradley on the Bulls, although I’m not sure how much interest the Celtics would have in Gibson. They can afford to lose Bradley though.”"
Apr 14, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Boston Celtics guard Avery Bradley (0) moves the ball upcourt during the second quarter of the game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: John Geliebter-USA TODAY Sports
I’ll bet they can. The only thing Avery Bradley has done in Boston for the most part is be the underlying reason why Ray Allen left Boston to go to Miami. When Ray Allen was injured, Avery Bradley was inserted into the starting lineup. Allen never got his starting spot back. For some reason Boston Celtics general manager Danny Ainge and head coach Brad Stevens swear by the guy. I guess signing him to a four year $32 million dollar contract will do that for you. To each its own I guess.
Let’s go into some reasons why Taj Gibson should stay in the Windy City for the playoff run.
Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
1) Taj Gibson has more upside and potential than both of these guys combined!
Taj Gibson was the runner-up for the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award last year and is odds on favorite this year. Gibson averaged 13 points per game along with 1.1 assists which were career highs. He also averaged a shade under seven rebounds and 1.4 blocks.
Jan 22, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah (13) and power forward Taj Gibson celebrate in the third quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
More importantly Taj formed a defensive chemistry with Joakim Noah that set the tone for the Bulls defense that was one of the best in the league. While Carlos Boozer started games last year, Taj Gibson’s effort was so consistent that it exposed Boozer’s flaws. Hence, Thibodeau always had Gibson on the floor in crunch time. Gibson’s development made it very easy for the Bulls to use the amnesty clause on Boozer waiving him this summer. The point here is clear, Taj Gibson’s star is on the rise. Kevin Martin’s star is falling and Avery Bradley star hasn’t even shined consistently yet.
2) Who’s going to replace Taj Gibson’s efficiency on defense.
Oct 6, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Washington Wizards center Kevin Seraphin (13) fouls Chicago Bulls guard Jimmy Butler (21) during the second half at the United Center. The Washington Wizards defeat the Chicago Bulls 85-81. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
Let me help you out on this one…NOBODY! Anyone who thinks that Nikola Mirotic will do it at this stage has not watched any preseason games. All you need to know is this play against the Washington Wizards. Basketball is the same all over the world. All the man had to yell was PICK! Gibson finished 13th in the NBA in blocks. Now remember Gibson was playing under Tom Thibodeau’s little league minutes program splitting the minutes right down the middle between Taj and Carlos Boozer. Taj Gibson can do it all on the defensive side of the ball. He can guard a big man one on one and can be a help defender in Thibodeau’s defensive schemes. Let Taj Gibson play and let Nikola Mirotic watch and learn.
Pau Gasol has always been a world-class player on the offensive end but he is nowhere near the defender that Gibson is. Tom Thibodeau says that Gasol can be a great defender. Does anyone buy that? Pau Gasol wasn’t the greatest defender in L.A. when they were winning titles. Look the nickname Pau “Gasoft” was real nickname at one time. Do you really think he’s all of a sudden going to be a consistent defender like Gibson at this stage of his career? Yeah, me too.
3) The Chicago Bulls are running out of time.
Sep 27, 2013; Deerfield, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose (1), center Joakim Noah (13) and head coach Tom Thibodeau pose for a photo during media day at the Berto Center. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
Have you taken a look at the Chicago Bulls stars lately?
Joakim Noah is 29 years old and is coming off knee surgery in the offseason. Oh let’s not forget the foot problems that hampered him last year. Pau Gasol is 34 years old and when his contract runs out, he will be 37 years old. By then, Gasol will have to be replaced. Guess who can do that? Oh yeah, that Taj Gibson dude. He might work out. Derrick Rose is coming off two major knee surgeries. Everything is being held up based on his health. Gibson has grown into a valuable asset to this squad. Plus he’s younger and can be a cornerstone to the franchise when these players get older.
The biggest part of the equation is familiarity. The Chicago Bulls have something ESPN analyst Doug Collins likes to call sweat equity. Tom Thibodeau, Taj, Joakim Noah and Derrick Rose are very comfortable with each other. They know what their strengths and weaknesses are and that is an advantage that Miami and Cleveland do not have at this point. The Bulls have a 2-3 year head start on the Cavaliers. They need to move now.
4) Guess who scored the most points last year for the Chicago Bulls?
Oct 7, 2014; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Taj Gibson (22) shoots in the first half against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
That’s right, it’s true. At 1,069 points, Taj Gibson scored more points than any other player on the Chicago Bulls. He was only one of three players to score 1,000 points last season with Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah. Now naturally, Gibson may not score that many points this season with the addition of Gasol and the return of Derrick Rose, but I have a question. Isn’t it comforting to have a player that can defend at the level of Gibson who can score the basketball?
Well Pippen Peoples, it’s time for you to speak out! Leave your comments below and let your voices be heard. Keep it locked to Pippen Ain’t Easy, your best choice for Chicago Bulls news, previews and reviews.
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