Would the Chicago Bulls have been Better Off Keeping Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah?
The Chicago Bulls took a gamble this off-season by parting ways with both Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah. At 20-21 heading into the mid-way point of the season, would the team’s uneven play been any different if they had kept two of their most beloved stars?
The Chicago Bulls had hoped that their off-season moves would have paid great dividends this season. The organization traded former MVP Derrick Rose to the Knicks, while acquiring center Robin Lopez and backup guard Jerian Grant in the process. In addition, the Bulls let Joakim Noah sign with New York.
This was just the start of what would end up being a head-scratching off season for a team looking to get back into championship contention. Looking to further shake things up, the Bulls went on to signing future Hall of Fame guard Dwyane Wade to a two-year deal. They also decided to sign former all-star point guard Rajon Rondo as Rose’s replacement.
All of these off-season moves were made because the Bulls’ organization did not want to rebuild their roster from the top-down through the draft.
Unfortunately, the Bulls’ season has thus far been one with plenty of highs and lows. They go out to beat top-shelf teams like the Cavaliers and Spurs one night. Then go on to lose to bad teams like the Mavericks and Timberwolves the next. There are nights where this Bulls’ team will appear fully in-sync and focused as ever, followed by other nights where the team plays bored and sloppy.
While Jimmy Butler is having a career year thus far, averaging over 25 points-per-game in addition to carrying the Bulls on his back, other players have seemingly let this team down. Rajon Rondo, who hardly gets to play anymore due to ongoing rifts within the organization, is struggling mightily with his shooting.
Related Story: Bulls are Stuck in Basketball Hell
The same shooting struggles can be applied for Nikola Mirotic, Michael Carter-Williams, Jerian Grant, and Isaiah Canaan. And second-year power-forward Bobby Portis‘ play on the court has regressed greatly from a season ago, for he rarely plays key minutes now.
In short, the Bulls’ reserve players have struggled to create shots for themselves and for one other while on the court, which has resulted in players like Butler and Wade having to carry all the burden in willing the team to victory on a nightly basis.
Sprinkle in injuries and nightly rest for key players such as Wade and Butler, and this Bulls team is nothing but an unsolved puzzle to watch most nights.
So to get back to my original question. Would the Bulls have been better off keeping both Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah knowing what we know now? Well, Derrick Rose for the Knicks this season is averaging 17.5 points-per-game, an improvement from a season ago in which he averaged 16.4.
Rose has also remained healthy for pretty much the entire season, only missing a handful of games. He is also shooting a higher percentage from the floor this season as opposed to last.
The drawback on keeping Rose on the Bulls would be his level of commitment on the court. Rose missed a game recently against the Pelicans without notifying anyone on the Knicks’ organization. His mind at times seems to be focused on “non-basketball” related aspects which is a major concern to say the least.
More from Da Windy City
- 3 takeaways from Chicago Blackhawks shootout loss to Nashville
- Chicago Cubs in the middle of chaos that is Shohei Ohtani’s free agency
- The Chicago Cubs are on a roller coaster of emotions chasing Shohei Ohtani
- Chicago Bears quietly compiling list of head coaching candidates
- Chicago White Sox News: Erick Fedde signs two-year deal
Joakim Noah on the other hand, is averaging less than six points per game for the Knicks this season. He’s 31 years old now, and is averaging under 23 minutes-per game as well. Noah is clearly a player who is long past his prime, still battling nagging injuries and soreness to remain on the court. Even with saying that, Noah’s presence, intensity, and passion for bringing the best in his teammates is surely being missed by the Bulls.
The Bulls’ replacement for Rose (Rondo) has been a clear downgrade. A failed experiment unlikely to change. Noah’s replacement (Lopez) has been solid, averaging 9 points-per-game while playing stout defense. So that swap in Lopez for Noah appears to have in some ways benefited the Bulls as a unit.
So, to answer the question: as to whether or not the Bulls would have been better off keeping both Rose and Noah? My answer is that they would probably be the same as they were a season ago, which is an average .500 team. They would be missing Wade’s production; his 19 points a game.
Still, with Rose and Noah, the Bulls as a unit would be more familiar playing with Fred Hoiberg a second time around. Of course that doesn’t guarantee anything. Having both Butler and Rose on the floor at the same time was problematic last season. There was no continuity evident between the two, as both players wanted the ball in their hands.
If the Bulls had kept Rose, maybe Butler’s play on the court suffers as a result. Wade’s veteran presence and winning attitude is also something that has benefited this team on a nightly basis. Of course, Noah’s presence regardless of production would have also benefited the Bulls’ locker room.
Next: Big Name Free Agent Targets for Chicago Bears
In the end, the Bulls, whether they kept both Rose and Noah, or decided to do what they ultimately did during the off-season, would have likely produced the same uneven play on a nightly basis.
Their reserve players may be the biggest culprits in all of this. The bench players lack of improvement on the court this season has hampered this team. Not even a healthy Rose and Noah would have changed that glaring problem.