NBA Trade Rumors: Joakim Noah May Leave Chicago Bulls Now That He Is A Free Agent

The 2015-16 season for the Bulls was marred with all sorts of dysfunction ranging from locker room chaos and injuries. This offseason, Chicago could use a major revamp to shakeup some bad tomatoes off the basket, retain good ones, and acquire some fresh add-ons from the market this summer.

However, one thing that the franchise's front office hasn't figured out quite yet is what to do with Joakim Noah.

Noah was NBA's defensive player of the year in his highly productive 2013-14 season and was even named to the All-NBA First Team. In that same season, he landed fourth in the league's MVP voting.

Then came the unexpected that set his career to a downward spiral- a knee procedure that was more troubling than previously announced. Since that time, the two-time All-Star just couldn't get things right. He went under the knife after suffering from two shoulder injuries making him like an odd man out in the team as Chicago prepares for the next season.

So, what's next for Joakim Noah as he enters the free agency market this summer?

Well, there are a lot of questions that demand serious answering. Will the team keep him or force him out through a trade? Things are quite hazy for now. Nevertheless, Noah remains a beloved figure among Chicago fans on and off the court largely through his leadership skills among rank and file team members and his charity work which staved off a barrage of criticisms at bay following his injuries.

Well, there could be other reasons for his possible departure from the team. As per Movie News Guide, Noah isn't always on the same page with head coach Fred Hoiberg. There's just too much pressure on him on the court although he could only play 29 games due to a string of injuries he had. Of course, no NBA player would like to be sidelined or be ridden of due to injuries. Hoiberg's coaching demands seemed overtaxing on a player being asked to play at level high.

Nevertheless, there are reports indicating that Bulls may not want to see him jumping board to another ship this summer despite his declining stats because of injuries. Apparently, the team seems to have retained that faith in him all these nine years of playing for the Bulls. As per ESPN, Noah's excellent on-and-off-the-court leadership is key to keeping the team together as it weathers through the good times and bad times. If Bulls will let him go, they expect other teams to pitch in a high-dollar offer to get him.

Meanwhile, some pundits are quite unsure what to make of having up-and-coming Chicago star Jimmy Butler and Noah on the roster if the Bulls decide to re-sign the latter.

"Though Noah's leadership deserves praise, it could naturally undermine Butler's. Every player knows Noah as a leader. Some seem to be unsure about Butler. Of course, if Butler is a poor leader even to the young players who look at him, that's a whole other can of worms. But even if that's the case, Butler can still grow into the role - if he gets a chance from his bothered teammates," remarked Dan Feldman of NBC Sports.