If the Chicago Bulls want to re-sign Taj Gibson this summer, they won’t have to sell him on a return.
He already wants to come back, per K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune:
Taj Gibson has survived near-annual trade rumors to become, in his eighth season, the longest-tenured Bull.
He’s also poised to become an unrestricted free agent for the first time next summer.
“Of course I want to stay here,” Gibson said in an interview with the Tribune.
It’s really tough to say whether Gibson will be in Chicago beyond this season. This is the second consecutive year during which he’s emerged as an everyday starter, and the Bulls will welcome the defensive toughness he brings around the rim. But the new cap climate is weird.
Players are signing massive deals. It wouldn’t be a shock if the 31-year-old Gibson came close to doubling his $9 million salary in 2017-18. And the Bulls may not be able to afford him at such a price tag.
Robin Lopez is already under contract, Nikola Mirotic will be a restricted free agent, and Chicago needs to figure out what the plan is for Bobby Porter. There is also Cristiano Felicio to consider. The Bulls have a ton of frontcourt, and Gibson could become collateral talent of that depth.
Maybe he’s willing to take another hometown discount. Or perhaps Dwyane Wade will pick up his player option, prompting the Bulls to spend heavily so that they can stay in win-now made. At this point, we can’t say what’s going to happen.
All we know for sure is that, well, we don’t know for sure if Gibson will remain in Chicago after this season.
