Welcome back Pippen Peoples to another episode of Chicago Bulls Rumors! Chicago Bulls Rumors is the fastest growing franchise on Pippen Ain’t Easy, your best choice for Chicago Bulls news, previews and reviews. If you are new to Pippen Ain’t Easy, I will let you in on a secret. Chicago Bulls rumors are a dime a dozen. There are probably 645,564 rumors surrounding this franchise in a month. The staff here at Pippen Ain’t Easy try to figure out two things concerning Chicago Bulls rumors. One is the rumor even worth listening to. Two, will the player be a good fit for the Chicago Bulls.
The star of this episode of Chicago Bulls Rumors is…
Taj Gibson?
Imagine that you are at your job. You are always on time and you are constantly working to get better at your craft. Everyone in the office raves about your work and how much you have improved.
Now you are up for a promotion. It’s pretty much a foregone conclusion that you are going to get it. The guy before you got fired and the word around the campfire that the job is yours.
Then the company goes outside the group and hires someone else. Then the rumors start. First thing that comes out is that you are not happy about not getting the promotion. Then after that the rumors start that you won’t be in the company long and will be transferred. Now you are asking questions.
Apr 11, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Taj Gibson (22) argues with referee Scott Foster (48) during the second quarter against the Detroit Pistons at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
Welcome to the summer of your backup power forward/center, Taj Gibson.
It seems that Taj Gibson has become the Chicago Bulls Rumors World Champion in his tenure in Chicago. He was on the trading block for a while when it was touch and go while dealing with his contract extension. Then he took off last year and came into his own finishing off games and banishing Carlos Boozer to the bench in a warmup suit in crunch time.
: Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports
Then he played so well, he made Carlos Boozer expendable and made the decision easy for the Bulls to use the one time amnesty provision on Boozer in the offseason. By this time, it looked like Gibson was penciled in as the starter next year.
Umm, not so fast Pippen Peoples.
The winds in the “Windy City” changed when the Chicago Bulls decided to sign Pau Gasol to a three-year deal at $22 million dollars which put Gibson back to where he started…
The bench.
Then the rumors started. Now all of a sudden, reports surfaced from CSN Chicago that Taj Gibson wasn’t too thrilled about heading back to the bench.
Check out what Aggrey Sam says about Taj Gibson’s unhappiness with his role.
"Privately, Gibson isn’t too thrilled with the prospect of continuing to be a reserve, according to multiple people familiar with the situation, but the upbeat, team first player values winning and chemistry too much to make it an issue or distraction. Furthermore, being an underdog his entire career, it could serve as motivation and help him thrive, building upon last year’s bounce back campaign and improvement as a scorer, which came after a disappointing, injury riddled season immediately following a long-term contract extension with the Bulls on Halloween 2012."
Aww…ain’t that sweet. It’s funny how words can sell one side to a story (In reality there is three sides, Taj Gibson’s side, the Bulls side and the truth). It looks like a story out of a Walt Disney movie. Taj Gibson defying the odds to get to the starting lineup knocking down obstacles only to get knocked down again. Taj Gibson, not to be deferred, using this obstacle as motivation to become a better player building on last year’s success.
Sure, and that statue of that bald-headed guy out in front of the United Center is me in a Michael Jordan throwback jersey.
Jan 18, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Snow falls on the Michael Jordan Statue before the game between the Chicago Bulls and the Philadelphia 76ers at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
I mean it all makes sense. All kids grow up to get to the NBA to be a backup. I can see it now, kids all around the world shooting the ball at the basket with the 3-2-1 game dreaming “I hope the guy that is starting hits the shot.” I can see how Taj Gibson could give the Bulls his all to the point that he was carried off the court in Game five of the playoffs to sit behind Pau Gasol.
Apr 29, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA Chicago Bulls forward Taj Gibson (22) lays on the court after being injured against the Washington Wizards in game five in the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports
The ultimate company guy right?
Taj Gibson went to Twitter to speak out on the rumors…
"Taj Gibson@Taj Gibson22I like coming off the bench tho!! Starting or coming off the bench really doesn’t matter. Please miss me with all the drama #SeeRed #BullsNation9:45 PM-19 Sep 2014"
Finally, the mention of the disappointing injury riddled season after signing the contract extension.
I’m starting to see a trend here. I think Carlos Boozer saw it a couple of years back. This is a classic case of “let’s see what we can get away with.” First the Bulls draft Gibson and don’t start him. They have all of this drama with the contract extension and then don’t start him. Then Tom Thibodeau splits the rotation minutes between Gibson and Boozer like this is a AAU team. Finally, the Bulls sign Gasol. Boozer read the writing on the wall and checked out early. Just like Pau Gasol did in Los Angeles. Get the connection.
Okay Pippen Peoples, here the situation. Do you really want all of this drama and infighting going on during the season over minutes? Sure there will be minutes for Gibson based on the fact that Noah and Gasol NEEDS less minutes on the floor than in the past. No player should be exposed to the Thibby 40 minute plan every night this year. Depth tends to make that irrelevant.
But Gibson is going to have to get some serious minutes this year. He’s worked hard enough and he has put in enough sweat equity with this squad to merit these minutes. No player is that much of a team player to bust his behind for 20 minutes a nigh especially after a season when they were runner-up for sixth man on the year like Taj Gibson was last year.
Sure, there are trade rumors floating around. PFFT! Don’t believe them. The Bulls can’t be that stupid. Teams would be lining up to make a deal if that was true. But a word to the wise, if the Bulls start their attitude of shut up and do what we say and disguise it under the umbrella of having a “Team First” mentality, there will be problems. We see how it worked out with Luol Deng and Carlos Boozer. Is Taj Gibson next?
There you have Pippen Peoples, another episode of Chicago Bulls Rumors. What d you think about all of these rumors floating around Taj Gibson? Leave your comment below and let your voices be heard. For all your in-depth information and analysis on all things Chicago Bulls, it is important to keep it locked to Pippen Ain’t Easy, your best choice for Chicago Bulls news, previews and reviews.
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