The Chicago Bulls continue to win without Joakim Noah in the lineup, but the question is whether or not they can sustain the success with limited depth available. Noah is likely out for the entire season after suffering a separated shoulder and now the responsibility of defending the interior is on the shoulders of Pau Gasol and Taj Gibson as both players will likely stay put at the trade deadline.
According to Nick Friedell of ESPN.com, Gasol might be a trade priority for the Bulls, but a deal will not happen. Gasol made it clear at the start of the season that he would likely opt out of his contract in order to seek a pay raise with the increasing salary caps. That means any team that might want to trade for him is simply getting a 35-year-old rental. The Bulls would want a lot in return for the veteran considering his solid production, but no team is going to shell out key assets for Gasol at the mid-season point. The Bulls will likely continue to field interest for Gasol. If the return package is worth it, a deal could get made. However, all signs point to Gasol staying put and the Bulls trying to squeeze whatever they can out of him. Gasol understands the need to look at trades, but he is not requesting a move.
"You have to understand it's part of this league and part of this business," Gasol said, via ESPN.com. "It's not the most comfortable nor the most pleasant situation to be in. But you just got to every day go and do your job and do it the best way you can. Carry yourself as a professional and control what you can control. When there's continuous rumors -- and I've been there -- it's hard. Every time it seems like there's something up or ... It's not pleasant but you have to understand that it is what it is and you just do what you can do to be who you are and be the player that you are."
The Bulls might want to make a trade to help with the injury to Noah, but they have nothing to trade. Nikola Mirotic's value is low. Gasol is likely staying put. Doug McDermott is too critical off the bench. Taj Gibson is now more important than ever. Instead of making deadline moves, the Bulls will hope players like Bobby Portis step up. The rookie has been playing well, but not consistently enough in place of the center. With Noah out, Portis is averaging 7.7 points and seven rebounds per game. That must increase if the team is going to get by.
"I don't know what his mindset was going into those games with Jo coming back, but the reality right now is Bobby is obviously going to be a huge part of the future of this franchise," head coach Fred Hoiberg said, via the Chicago Sun-Times. "Just go out and play minutes, play through mistakes, which maybe we'd have a little less of that if Jo was out there in the lineup. We're obviously going to need Bobby to play well if we're going to have a good year.''
