Bulls Rumors: Latest on Taj Gibson Trade Talk, Joakim Noah and More

The Chicago Bulls are in limbo, seemingly lost in something of an awkward-footed stance between shipping away talent to rebuild and hanging on just enough to flirt with a low playoff seed next season.

Despite potential summer losses such as Pau Gasol and Joakim Noah, the brass in the Windy City thought it best to trade point guard Derrick Rose to the New York Knicks, getting back guard Jerian Grant, center Robin Lopez and others in the deal.

It doesn't sound like the Bulls have put an end to the reconstruction just yet, not with Jimmy Butler and Taj Gibson among the names coming up in rumblings ahead of the market's opening on Friday.

Before things get hectic, let's take a look at the notable rumors regarding the team.

Joakim Noah Gone for Good, Taj Gibson Close Behind?

The Bulls better get comfy with a Lopez-led front underneath the basket.

Not only did Gasol opt out of his contract on Monday, but the fallback plan known as Joakim Noah doesn't sound keen on returning to a franchise that let him become an afterthought after years of service.

Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times broke down the complicated recent history between the two parties: 

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A source close to the situation not only shot down a report last month that the Bulls and Noah were having early “positive dialogue’’ on coming back together, but reiterated a Sun-Times story from late May in which Noah was telling teammates that he had no trust in the direction the front office was taking the team.

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It's hard to blame Noah, who went from an average of 36.8 minutes per game in 2012-13 to just 21.9 last year. Though he got hurt and appeared in only 29 games last season, Noah never seemed like a major part of the plan.

Per Cowley, Noah wants to win and play more minutes. Seeing as the Bulls don't seem like contenders on paper and can't promise him playing time, the marriage that started in 2007 is apparently over.

But the makeover underneath the basket doesn't stop there.

According to Cowley, the Bulls have also tossed around the idea of moving Gibson: "To add some further clouds to the Bulls frontcourt rotation, a league source said that the Bulls have been talking to several teams about the possibility of moving Taj Gibson."

One could argue this makes more sense than dealing Rose, as Gibson turned 31 on Friday and is in the last year of his deal next season. He managed averages of 8.6 points and 6.9 rebounds last year over 73 games, but he's part of a logjam at power forward.

Chicago won't miss Gibson's $8.95 million cap hit, according to Spotrac, and a contender won't mind eating a one-year rental if it strengthens its depth. Dealing Gibson could also acquire future assets while freeing up more playing time for Nikola Mirotic and Bobby Portis.

It seems an odd time to dish away another leader with so much turnover already, but the above points make it seem worth the sacrifice.

The Jimmy Butler Trade Stall

One player the Bulls weren't quick to give away?

Jimmy Butler.

Butler seems like the line the Bulls have drawn between being in full-blown rebuild mode and being a pretender. According to ESPN.com's Marc Stein, the Bulls shied away from a potential deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

"But the Bulls, sources say, ultimately decided not to go ahead with a deal in which they'd be forced to surrender Butler just one day after completing a trade with New York that sent Derrick Rose to the Knicks," Stein wrote.

Butler isn't a stranger to trade speculation, something Stein helped reinforce with this telling bit of background info: "Butler rubbed teammates and front office personnel the wrong way last season when he tried to take a more vocal leadership role within the locker room."

Now, Rose and likely Noah and Gasol are gone, so Butler can lead more easily as long as the Bulls don't get an offer they like.

This may or may not happen, but the Bulls front office has to have a firm grip on a note by ESPN Stats & Info:

For context's sake, Butler averaged only 20.9 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.8 assists over his full 67-game season.

The Chicago front office, head coach Fred Hoiberg and Butler seem to have patched any troubles based on a note by K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune:

Just know teams won't stop calling the Windy City, meaning the rumors and speculation won't end.

The Bulls have opened multiple cans of worms, from the team's odd relationship with its star player to its borderline nuking of the core and its willingness to start over at so many spots.

It doesn't sound like Butler will go anywhere, but it didn't sound too likely before the draft either. That didn't stop the Bulls from listening.

All stats and info via ESPN.com unless otherwise specified.