Big P
04-27-2007, 11:07 AM
link (http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/basketball/bulls/askthewriter/cs-070426asksamsmith,1,1025838.story?coll=cs-bulls-headlines)
Playoff fever is here! Happy to see my Bulls win. I've watched the game three times now I was so happy. But is this the last time I will see Nocioni with the Bulls? I have a feeling Deng and Gordon will be back. What's up with Noce? He doesn't strike me as a guy who'd want a bunch of money so with a hometown discount and being he's restricted, what are the chances he is back? --Danny Shoffman, Phoenix
Probably 50-50. It's not like the Bulls don't like him, and GM John Paxson showed in rejecting a trade for Pau Gasol in February that he's not going to get rid of his guys easily. Nocioni gives the Bulls that edge teams love to have, though as you might have seen in Game 2, he can drive the coach nuts. Skiles sat him quickly early in the fourth quarter when be botched a defensive rotation again. Noce has a lot of value around the NBA and will have more if the Bulls make a long playoff run. He is a restricted free agent, and the Bulls won't let another team come in and steal him. They'll match any offer. But he could be part of a sign and trade situation if they can come up with a post man who can score inside.
Playoff fever is here! Happy to see my Bulls win. I've watched the game three times now I was so happy. But is this the last time I will see Nocioni with the Bulls? I have a feeling Deng and Gordon will be back. What's up with Noce? He doesn't strike me as a guy who'd want a bunch of money so with a hometown discount and being he's restricted, what are the chances he is back? --Danny Shoffman, Phoenix
Probably 50-50. It's not like the Bulls don't like him, and GM John Paxson showed in rejecting a trade for Pau Gasol in February that he's not going to get rid of his guys easily. Nocioni gives the Bulls that edge teams love to have, though as you might have seen in Game 2, he can drive the coach nuts. Skiles sat him quickly early in the fourth quarter when be botched a defensive rotation again. Noce has a lot of value around the NBA and will have more if the Bulls make a long playoff run. He is a restricted free agent, and the Bulls won't let another team come in and steal him. They'll match any offer. But he could be part of a sign and trade situation if they can come up with a post man who can score inside.