With the NBA trade deadline approaching in just over 24 hours, several names are being tossed around in the rumor mill as teams attempt to add one final piece to the puzzle in hopes of getting into the playoffs come spring time. The Chicago Bulls are currently one of the favorites to win the Eastern Conference, but injuries could stall that plan out once again. With several teams targeting a trade for Taj Gibson at the Thursday deadline, do not expect the Bulls to let the forward walk away that easily.
There is a lot of attention on Gibson simply because he is a player that could be starter, but depth is forcing him to the bench. Gibson has been one of the better sixth man players in the league for the past few years and plenty of teams would like to get him on their side for the second-half stretch of the season. However, injuries to the Bulls' big men have Gibson likely staying put on Thursday.
According to the Chicago Sun-Times, while the Bulls would think of trading Gibson at the right price, reoccurring injuries to Joakim Noah likely have all conversations going nowhere. With Noah struggling with knee issues, the Bulls are very reluctant to trade Gibson knowing he can start for the team at a moment's notice.
The Bulls were thought to be ready to trade Gibson simply because of the depth already on the team. Chicago added Pau Gasol in the offseason along with Nikola Mirotic which gives them plenty of size on the court alongside Noah. That pushed Gibson back to a bench role as he continues to fight for minutes this season. As a result, a number of teams have been eyeing deals for the forward.
The Milwaukee Bucks are reportedly interest in Gibson according to Sam Smith of NBA.com. The Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers could also be taking a close look at the forward at the deadline. Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau has made it clear that he does not want the front office trading Gibson, knowing just how valuable he is to the team if someone like Noah were to go down for an extended period of time. As the Bulls continue to negotiate a contract extension with Jimmy Butler, knowing they have Gibson locked in for a few more years gives them security.