http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/joakim-noah-has-told-teammates-hes-done-with-the-bulls/ Joakim Noah has told teammates he’s done with the Bulls Joakim Noah may have belted out his last primal scream in a Bulls uniform. Noah has been telling teammates in recent weeks that he was done with the organization once free agency begins, and “has no trust in the front office getting this in the right direction,’’ according to a Bulls player. The player was asked if Noah’s feelings had anything to do with first-year coach Fred Hoiberg and the tension that developed between the two early in the season, when Noah lost his starting job. The player insisted that Noah didn’t bring up the rift as an explanation for his desire to bolt. What was offered up, however, was the notion that there seems to be a complete mistrust multiple players have toward general manager Gar Forman, with Noah leading that charge. According to the player, former coach Tom Thibodeau was always able to shield the players from the front office, having them buy into the idea that it was “us against them.’’ ... Noah, who is one of the more charitable players in the entire NBA, had become so annoyed with Forman that he actually turned down a chance to help Bulls Charities earlier this season. According to the player, Noah was approached by Leslie Forman – Gar’s wife, as well as the VP of Bulls Charities – to take place in “some auction where he would have to ride around town with the winner or something like that.” Noah didn’t like the way he was approached and pressured, so flatly said no. “Not like Jo at all,’’ the player said. ... But that also pulls back another layer with the Bulls that rubs players the wrong way. The feeling is there is no accountability with Forman because of the relationship he and his wife have with team president and COO Michael Reinsdorf and his wife, Nancy. Nancy is the president of Bulls Charities and works closely with Leslie. “[Noah] represents a lot of things that we believe in,’’ VP of basketball operations John Paxson said in mid-April about re-signing Noah. “So we have an affinity for Jo. But we’ve got to talk, we’ve got to see where it goes.’’ It may have already gone.
Nobody took me up on my $10 bet offer. Looks like they're already throwing Gar under the bus. Here you have it. Player outright refusing to re-sign with the Bulls specifically because of the awful management.
Right. And the half that is going unreported is that Noah, looking at the facts of this article, seems to not have a lot of trust for Michael Reinsdorf either. Noah is the one player on the Bulls roster, since Luol Deng was traded, that I thought might be a quality person off the court.
Isn't he a good person off the court? The article says he's been highly involved in charity, but doesn't want to associate with the Bulls anymore doing his charity work. He did get busted smoking dope, but that doesn't make him a bad guy (just stupid considering the league policy on drug use).
Sad to see the Bulls org has fallen so far. Noah has been a high quality NBA basketball player for the Bulls. He of course thrived under the Thibs environment, as did many players. Now we're left with the scorched earth rubble that GarPax created. And one of the the best Bulls ever doesn't want any part of it. Fine job GarPax.
I have the Bulls to root for...same as I had before either Forman or Paxson were in middle school. Good Lord willin', I'll still be rooting for the Bulls after the current management team is gone. As always, I'll hope for the best, be thrilled by success and disappointed in failure. I mean hell, it's sports.
http://www.foxsports.com/nba/story/minnesota-timberwolves-tom-thibodeau-joakim-noah-free-agency-060616 Tom Thibodeau and Joakim Noah may reunite in Minnesota Maybe all the good Bulls are going to make their way to Minny? McDermott and GarPax stay here.
