Chicago Bulls Must Deal with Probable Exit of Old Core Players

The Chicago Bulls must prepare for life without Joakim Noah, Derrick Rose and Taj Gibson.

The Bulls face an imminent transition period with former core pieces likely moving on from the organization within the next couple of seasons.

Joakim Noah becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer, while Taj Gibson and Derrick Rose enter unrestricted free agency after the 2016-17 season.

The Bulls face an uncertain future and must figure out how they would move forward without players that once made up the core of this team should these three players leave. Noah, Rose and Gibson could all be gone as early as summer 2017.

In an interview with Sportando at adidas’ Eurocamp, Noah further diminished any hopes that he might re-sign with the Chicago Bulls with his responses to several questions.

Star point guard Derrick Rose could also be on his way out of Chicago. The 27-year-old becomes an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2016-17 season. He angered many Bulls fans last September after he said he was looking forward to his impending free agency.

"“I’ve been moved on,” Rose said. “This whole summer I had tunnel vision. My mindset was just making sure that I was working out every day, and spending as much time as possible with my son (P.J.). And focusing on those two things. Making sure my family is financially stable, as far as seeing all the money that they’re passing out in this league. Just telling the truth. Just knowing that my day will be coming up soon, and it’s not for me. It’s for P.J. and his future, so that’s what I’m thinking about right now.’“I’m preparing for it.’’“Here, it’s here,” Rose said of where he wants to play. “But when you talk about that much money, the only thing you can do is prepare for it. I’m trying to prepare, not only myself, but my family. And I’m doing this all for my son. Like I said, I’m thinking about his future. Even though we’re all right, we’re comfortable, when you talk about that x-amount of dollars, I think it raises everyone’s eyebrows, so there’s nothing wrong with being over-prepared.’’-Quotes via Cody Westerlund of CBS Chicago"

Recent rumblings around the NBA indicate that the Chicago Bulls haven’t ruled out trading their formerly exalted star.

"Rose is entering the final year of his deal and has commented numerous times on the ballooning salary cap and his next contract, much to the dismay of the Bulls front office and a large number of Bulls fans. Add that to an on-again, off-again intensity and there is a sense that both sides would welcome a change, especially with Rose entering a free agent year.At this point, it’s unclear which teams (if anyone) has made a real offer for Rose, especially given his $21.3 million salary. But it was said a few times that the name being talked about most among teams and scouts in Italy was not Butler, but rather Rose and there is a sense that a team that misses on a starting-caliber point guard in free agency may turn to the Bulls.–Basketball Insiders writer Steve Kyler"

Rose hasn’t ruled out a potential return to Chicago. However, his injury history and questions about his ability to play with Jimmy Butler puts his future in Chicago in limbo.

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Taj Gibson is the final player of the three, whose long-term future with the Bulls remains blurry. He becomes an unrestricted free agent in 2017. Gibson’s impending fee agency hasn’t been publicized to the extent of his teammates.

There isn’t a real substantive argument either for or against Gibson re-signing with the Bulls. But, the Bulls have to prepare for the worst, and must  consider life without Gibson because of the unpredictability of free agency. He is a high-energy rebounder and elite defender with sneaky good offensive skills. This skill package will make him a highly sought out asset in free agency.

How did the Bulls end up in a position where most of their old core will likely move on from the organization in the next couple of seasons?

The Bulls front office tandem of Gar Forman and John Paxson damned players like Noah, Rose and Gibson by getting rid of the coach that they thrived under.

These guys all had their best seasons when Tom Thibodeau coached the Bulls. New head coach Fred Hoiberg has implemented an offensive system and organizational philosophy that wasn’t meant for a group of players who spent most of their careers digesting the Thibodeau-era values and principles.

This isn’t to say that these players can’t thrive under a coach not named Thibodeau.

The problem is that the front office brought in a new head coach that is the antithesis of Tom Thibodeau, thus dooming any chance of these players continuing to have success with the Bulls.

If all three players leave the Chicago Bulls, what is left?

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For better or for worse, the Chicago Bulls future could depend on the development of guys like Nikola Mirotic, Doug McDermott, and Bobby Portis.

Unless the Bulls trade him, Jimmy Butler will serve as the franchise centerpiece moving forward.

The Bulls have two strategies they can implement as they enter the critical 2016 summer offseason.

• The front office continues to build around Butler, Mirotic, McDermott, and Portis under the assumption that one or more of these players can develop into stars and/or they can find a star in the draft. If they build using this strategy, they would also add free agents to supplement these players. The Bulls’ inability under Forman and Paxson to lure top free agents to Chicago makes it unlikely that the team will add another star via free agency. The Bulls have relied on homegrown talent for years. That shouldn’t change this summer.

• Complete rebuild. Flip as many players as possible via trades for young talent and draft picks. It may take time, but it might just create the core group of homegrown talent that the Bulls need to be competitive in the future.

Maybe it is time for the Bulls to blow this all up and start over again.

After all, former franchise cornerstones like Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah and Taj Gibson are likely out the door in the coming seasons. The Bulls need a fresh start with new faces.

Next: Joakim Noah appears ready to explore free agency options this summer

Unless, of course, the front office thinks the Bulls can seriously contend (not just make the playoffs, but actually have a realistic shot at the NBA Finals), with Butler, Mirotic, McDermott and Portis as the new core.