Taj Gibson Trade Rumors: Latest Buzz and Speculation on Bulls Star

Joseph ZuckerJun 26, 2016

Having already traded Derrick Rose to the New York Knicks, the Chicago Bulls may not be done reshuffling their roster this offseason. Taj Gibson could be the next veteran out the door.

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Bulls Reportedly Looking to Move Gibson

Sunday, June 26

The Chicago Sun-Times' Joe Cowley reported Sunday the Bulls have talked to other teams about trading Gibson.

Trading Gibson makes sense for Chicago, even if the team is resigned to losing one or both of Joakim Noah and Pau Gasol in free agency. Robin Lopez's arrival in the Rose trade will help bolster the frontcourt, and the Bulls have plenty of depth at power forward.

Head coach Fred Hoiberg will likely want to give Bobby Portis more playing time in 2016-17, and the same goes for Nikola Mirotic. Offloading Gibson will make it easier for Hoiberg to focus on the franchise's younger players.

Trading Gibson by itself shouldn't be an issue. The question for the Bulls will be how much they want back in return.

In the past, his expiring deal would be relatively attractive—Gibson is due $8.95 million in 2016-17 before hitting free agency, per Spotrac. Now, however, the skyrocketing salary cap gives general managers a lot more flexibility, and expiring contracts aren't much of a bargaining chip.

Gibson is a solid reserve 4. He averaged 8.6 points and 6.9 rebounds last year, and his 52.6 field-goal percentage was the highest of his career. Still, Chicago can't expect trading Gibson to provide anything in the way of long-term assets.

It's clear the Bulls are cleaning house. They already dealt Rose, and the Chicago Tribune's K.C. Johnson reported Friday the team discussed a Jimmy Butler trade with the Boston Celtics.

Even if a total rebuild isn't in general manager Gar Forman's plans, trading Gibson would be a good move for the Bulls as they start shifting to a new core of starters to get back into the postseason.