Taj Gibson Trade Rumors: Latest News, Rumors and Speculation on Bulls PF
The Chicago Bulls roster, as currently constructed, seems to be a poor fit for the up-tempo offense new head coach Fred Hoiberg wants to run, meaning changes could be coming. One of those changes could be trading forward Taj Gibson.
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Gibson or Joakim Noah Could Be Dealt for Wing Players
Wednesday, Dec. 23
Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports reported on his podcast, The Vertical, that the Bulls would be willing to move Gibson for a wing player (via Blog A Bull):
"Executives around the league, and people have told me, that the Bulls are very determined to add a talented wing player...and I’ve been told that the Bulls are open to...whether it’s Joakim Noah, Taj Gibson...maybe not both of them, but either of them if there’s a deal out there that they can bring in the best possible wing player available, they’re open to it. ... They need more shooting.
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Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times also reported that Gibson, Noah and Pau Gasol are on the trade block, per "several sources."
The Bulls remain a team better suited to Tom Thibodeau’s scheme rather than the one Hoiberg wants to run. Neither Gasol nor Noah seems fit for the up-tempo attack, the team lacks shooters and Derrick Rose isn't the player he once was. While the Bulls can still get by with a solid defense, an offense ranked 20th in points per game isn't cutting it.
Gibson, 30, could bring back the wing players the Bulls need, and he's expendable given Chicago's depth down low with Gasol, Noah and Nikola Mirotic. He's a solid defender and rebounder coming off the bench who could offer a team quality minutes in a big-man rotation.
Gibson is averaging 7.2 points and 6.0 rebounds in 22.5 minutes per game this season.
The Bulls ultimately will go in a different direction roster-wise with Hoiberg at the helm. It wouldn't be surprising if Gibson was one of the first players to be traded in that transformation.
