The Chicago Bulls had arguably the worst offseason of any team in the NBA, losing several valuable pieces while making only marginal additions. The team has alienated their devout fans with financial “basketball decisions” and has left little hope for the present with former MVP Derrick Rose still recovering from a torn ACL.
In addition, the organization has also failed to execute two seemingly no-brainer moves, extending power forward Taj Gibson and head coach Tom Thibodeau. For the sake of the team, the fans and the future, the Bulls need to get these contracts done before they become a distraction in an already muddled 2012-13 season for Chicago.
Gibson is a huge asset for a Bulls squad that lost significant defense when they let both Omer Asik and Ronnie Brewer leave in the offseason. Gibson comes up huge for Chicago while Carlos Boozer is on the bench, and also makes up for the veteran power forwards defensive liabilities in late-game situations.
The Bulls got a steal when they drafted Gibson late in the first round of the 2009 NBA Draft, and the athletic forward could flourish in starter’s minutes. The reserve forward averaged 7.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocks while logging only 20 minutes per game. Looking at his per-36 adjusted statistics, Gibson would be a force if given more playing time. Via Basketball-reference.com, his per-36 totals: 13.6 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.3 blocks. That rejection average would have been second only to Serge Ibaka, who averaged 3.65 blocks per game in 2011-12.
Gibson will be a restricted free agent at the end of next season, and has openly spoke about his desire to remain with the team. Via ESPNChicago.com:
“Really, it doesn’t matter (when it happens),” Gibson told ESPNChicago.com Thursday afternoon. “I told (general manager) Gar (Forman) and (vice president John Paxson) how committed I am to just being with the Bulls. It’s not a thought in my head to leave Chicago because I love playing for the Bulls. My future is here.”
The Bulls have found (and often lucked into) great organization guys like Gibson. With the value he brings to the team, the Bulls should work on an extension immediately to help solidify the core for the future. When Boozer is eventually moved/amnestied, Gibson will be able to slip right into the starting rotation, and could eventually develop into one of the better power forwards in the league.
On the coaching side, talks between Thibodeau and the organization have been quiet, to say the least. The Bulls picked up the option on the final year of his contract, but have not extended it despite Thibodeau leading the team to two consecutive No.1 seeds in the Eastern Conference. Thibodeau has said that he isn’t worried about the negotiations, but others have reported that the coach isn’t happy with the current situation. For a team that needs to overachieve once again to stay afloat in 2012 without their star, a disgruntled coach isn’t the best place to start. The players all buy in to Thibodeau’s system, and reports have stated that players are well-aware of his unhappiness.
With Jerry Reinsdorf and the front office already making a mockery of the 2012 offseason, one way to help ease the pain is to get these two extensions done before facing any turmoil in the regular season. But based on what we’ve seen so far, finding a price that both sides can agree to may be tough for the penny-pinching Bulls organization.
Zach Mink covers the Chicago Bulls for Rant Sports. Follow him on twitter @zachmink12 for more news and analysis.
