Pippen Ain't Easy
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Chicago Bulls: Former players we’d love to see in the BIG3

By Luke Askew

MIAMI - APRIL 27: Kirk Hinrich #12 and Ben Gordon #7 of the Chicago Bulls talk on the court in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against the Miami Heat during the 2007 NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Arena on April 27, 2007 in Miami, Florida. The Bulls won 104-96. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2007 NBAE (Photo by Victor Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images)
MIAMI - APRIL 27: Kirk Hinrich #12 and Ben Gordon #7 of the Chicago Bulls talk on the court in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against the Miami Heat during the 2007 NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Arena on April 27, 2007 in Miami, Florida. The Bulls won 104-96. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2007 NBAE (Photo by Victor Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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(Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune/TNS via Getty Images)
(Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune/TNS via Getty Images) /

2. Joakim Noah

I don’t need to remind Chicago fans about the impact Joakim Noah had on the Bulls. The 2x All-Star and former Defensive Player of the Year was a huge part of the Bulls success during the Derrick Rose/Tom Thibodeau era.

In fact, Noah might have been the MVP of the Bulls during that era.

He’s struggled to make it work during his last two years with the New York Knicks (after signing an absurd 4-year, $72 million deal). After his first two seasons under that contract, he’s only played in a combined 53 games and averaged 4.6 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game on 49.0 percent shooting from the field (acceptable) and 43.9 percent shooting from the free-throw line (unacceptable).

That isn’t the Joakim Noah we all know and love, and that isn’t how I want to remember him on the basketball court.

The BIG3 would give Noah a great opportunity to showcase his defensive talents and insane work ethic one more time. I’m not sure he has any more NBA basketball left in him. Maybe I’m wrong and he’ll reunite with Thibs, Jimmy Butler, Taj Gibson and Derrick Rose in Minnesota, but I’m not sold on him being effective as an NBA player anymore.

Anchoring the defense on a BIG3 team is where he can still shine.

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