After some conflicting reports, last month it was reported that Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah was having positive talks with the team about a new contract. Noah is set to be an unrestricted free agent on July 1, and a more recent report linked the French big man to his former head coach Tom Thibodeau, who is now in Minnesota.
Noah was a guest at the Adidas Eurocamp in Treviso and spoke with Sportando about wanting to evaluate every option this summer:
Sportando: This will be your first time as a free-agent, are you already thinking about that or are you taking your time?
Noah: I’m very focused on free-agency. I spent the last 10 years in Chicago, there were good moments and bad moments but now I have an incredible opportunity for a player, being recruited by a team, I definitely want to live that kind of experience. It’s new for me but it’s something very intriguing for a player.Sportando: So are you going to consider other offers, right?
Noah: Sure. I’ll consider every offer on the table, no doubt.
Noah also addressed the adjustment of switching from Thibodeau to Fred Hoiberg, citing playing time as a big difference:
Sportando: Speaking about last season, of course was a tough year for you guys. You didn’t reach the playoffs and you did not reached your expectations. What was for you the biggest adjustement that you need to make from Thibodeau to Hoiberg?
Noah: Playing time, man. I haven’t played many minutes this season and that was a major change for me. It was difficult, there was a change of culture in the team and many things changed. Then I got hurt and the season was over for me. I was very disappointed, man. Definitely a bad season but you know, you need to go through adversity to become a better player.
There are many teams that should and will be interested in Noah. The Timberwolves seem to be set on their pursuit, and Noah’s mentioning of playing time in this conversation sheds a bit more light there. There was never a cohesion established with Hoiberg’s system before Noah’s season-ending shoulder injury occurred in January. His value and his intentions for this last stint of his career will be greatly tested this summer.
