However, after Derrick Rose was traded to the New York Knicks a day before the NBA Draft, recent rumors surfaced this week that Derrick Rose was actively recruiting Joakim Noah to his new team.
It seems that his efforts will be successful.
After initially being linked to the Washington Wizards, possibly in an attempt to build a better case for attracting Kevin Durant to Washington, the 2014 NBA Defensive Player of the Year is now strongly rumored to be signing with the New York Knicks when NBA Free Agency opens tomorrow.
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| BITTERSWEET to finally see the Big Three of Carmelo Anthony, Joakim Noah, and Derrick Rose challenge Lebron and the Cleveland Cavaliers. It just won't be in Chicago. |
The move will put together the rumored 2014 Chicago Bulls Big Three in New York, joining Joakim Noah, Derrick Rose, and Carmelo Anthony.
The Chicago Bulls, after completing a disappointing 2015-16 season where they missed the playoffs under new head coach Fred Hoiberg and badly missed preseason expectations of challenging the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference, have been forced into rebuilding due to the imminent departures of Joakim Noah and Pau Gasol in free agency.
Both All-Star big men want to play for a contender, and they believed their best option was to leave.
This plunged the Bulls into a "restructuring" effort that began with sending Derrick Rose to the New York Knicks last week, and the Chicago Bulls have reportedly had advanced discussions about dealing Taj Gibson, as well as, Jimmy Butler.
It is bittersweet, especially the off-season after watching the Cleveland Cavaliers win the NBA Championship, to finally see the Chicago Bulls Big Three of 2014, Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, and Carmelo Anthony, come together to challenge Lebron James and the Cavs in the Eastern Conference. However, to watch them come together on the New York Knicks with all three players two years older feels like a great injustice to the fans in Chicago.
I, for one, will welcome any team that will meaningfully challenge the Cavaliers in the East, and I will probably root for Joakim Noah and Derrick Rose, the hometown kid, if he wins a ring. He gave the Chicago Bulls many great moments, one incredible season, and the chance to dream of NBA Championships.
What do you think about Joakim Noah joining Derrick Rose and Carmelo Anthony on the New York Knicks in free agency? How will they fair against the Cleveland Cavaliers? Tell us what you think in the comments below!
