Pippen Ain't Easy
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The Bulls’ Top Five Attainable Free Agents

By Alex Kirschenbaum

Apr 13, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Jimmy Butler (21) dribbles the ball against the Philadelphia 76ers during the first quarter at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 13, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Jimmy Butler (21) dribbles the ball against the Philadelphia 76ers during the first quarter at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports /
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Joakim Noah, C, Chicago Bulls
Apr 13, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah (13) sits on the bench during the first quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports /

Joakim Noah

This is almost guaranteed NOT to happen (hence the non-ranking) from the overtures made through Joe Cowley to the Bulls’ trading for a Noah Lite in Sideshow Rob(in Lopez).

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    • That being said — I don’t care about Robin Lopez.

    His $13.2 million contract this year is about to become an absolute below-market steal this summer, so he can very handily be flipped after waiting the requisite two months for the dust to settle on the GarPax-mandated Derrick Rose exodus.

    To be fair, that has about a 0.001% chance of happening (if the Bulls had a more trade-happy GM like Daryl Morey, the odds would change).

    Lopez is three years younger than Noah (31-28), has been very healthy for the duration of his career to this point and I would love him as a backup.

    It’s hard to discern what exactly the market value is for an league-average starting center this summer, but it appears that early predictions for mid-tier starting centers Bismack Biyombo and Ian Mahinmi are somewhere in the $16-20 million range.

    Of course, Enes Kanter was given a maximum extension last summer and metamorphosed into a crucial sixth man for the Oklahoma City Thunder last year. It can happen.

    Lopez is basically a shoddy Noah without the passing, leadership or (when healthy) speed. With the Bulls continuing to revamp their medical staff, I think a big comeback season is in Noah’s future.

    Especially after the Rose deal, though, it would take two big things from the Bulls’ side to even have a SLIGHT chance of happening:

    • The Bulls would have to make a significant overpayment, in the $22 million range (an absolute max for a player with Noah’s years in the league this season would be $26.6 million, which seems far-fetched).

    But, if it’s overpaying by that much it could be on a one-year deal with a player option for the second season. It would be an audition on both sides, as the Bulls see what Noah can contribute during (hopefully) a full season of health, and Noah can work his tail off to get a longer-term, near-max when the salary cap balloons again in 2017.

    Next: Report: Pau Gasol to decline player option, will become free agent on July 1

    With Noah’s injury history, this two-year contract with a one-year opt-out feels highly unlikely. But I can dream, can’t I?

    • Noah would need a guarantee, probably written into the contract, that he would be the starter. This doesn’t happen in the NBA as far as we know, but I wouldn’t trust a GarPax “handshake deal” if I were Noah, so I think it’d be a necessary evil for the Bulls.

    Fred Hoiberg made two massive mistakes at the jump last season — his first was forcing Noah into a bench role, his second was pretending that Noah suggested it.

    The Bulls have an opportunity to rectify that wrong.

    Noah has been the Bulls’ workaholic heart and soul since about Game 6 of the 2009 Bulls-Celtics series. Why not keep him around, maximize his strength and populate the rest of the starting lineup with shooters to cover up his weaknesses?

    The Bulls locker room needs a leader with proven success and Noah is that guy.

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