Joakim Noah: Why the Chicago Bulls Were Smart to Pay Him $60 Million

Out of all the positions in basketball, it's hard to argue against the case that centers get the most ridiculous contracts thrown their way. Erick Dampier getting $73 million for seven years is a prime example of how much teams value a skilled big man in the post. Even if it's for only one good year of work (like Dampier did with the Golden State Warriors the year before signing this particularly monstrous deal), teams sometimes fall victim to overpaying big men much more than they actually deserve.

With all this said, you might think Joakim Noah is just another big man playing for a huge deal before he becomes lazy and falls back into being an effective role player, but nothing more. Unlike most giant men who sign enormous deals before tailing off (a more recent sports example—Albert Haynesworth), Noah has proven in the past that he's a winner.

Noah never shot under 60 percent for a season while in college (where he won an NCAA national title with the Florida Gators), his length is menacing, and his fiery attitude has irrefutably been inspiring to his teammates. He has done a fairly good job transitioning to the NBA, as his field goal percentage still remains high and he has already attained a reputation of being an intense, defensive force on the court.

The fact is, while the five-year, $60 million extension he signed yesterday might seem a tad high when you look at his stats and injury history, for being a center, this contract isn't actually that bad when you consider his age (25), his versatility, and the fact that the Bulls just lost Carlos Boozer to a freak injury for potentially two months. All in all, this move makes total sense.

The Bulls have also done their part by showing a huge amount of confidence in their big man, refusing to part with him even if it meant he was the missing ingredient to acquiring a certain Carmelo Anthony. By signing this extension, Noah has to be pleased that the Bulls are putting so much trust in him. Based on his 2010 first-round playoff series against the Cavs where he really took off (averaging 14.8 PPG and 13.0 RPG), you have to assume Noah has been putting in a lot of work this offseason. He also has to be excited with the fact that he will be playing next to Boozer when Carlos regains his strength, seeing as Boozer specializes in mid-range jump shots and rebounds while Noah concentrates on blocks, cleaning up around the basket, and frustrating his opponents.

The Bulls have always been a good team, one that has been a little bit of nuisance in the playoffs but one that didn't quite ever have the muscle or talent to go deep into the race. Now, by locking up Noah and putting him next to the explosive Derrick Rose hopefully for years to come, one could make the case that the Bulls are as formidable a threat out East as anyone else (excusing the Miami Heat, obviously).

The biggest thing that could make this a "bad contract" is if Noah keeps getting hurt. The Bulls absolutely need him on the court if they hope to contend in a now very interesting Eastern Conference. By signing Noah to this contract, new GM Gar Forman has indicated that team chemistry is very important (dodging the uncomfortableness of Noah being upset at the lack of an extension), and no one can dispute that this is a bad move.

The Bulls might be hurting for a little while without their go-to guy in the post on offense, but they will certainly rest comfortably at night thanks to the fact that their post defense situation, as well as their overall future, is relatively secure thanks to signing one of the loudest and most skilled post defenders in the league.