The Chicago Bulls sent a strong signal to the rest of the league that they are willing to become sellers before the NBA trade deadline as they continue to retool their roster in hopes of improving their title chances in the next few seasons.
The Bulls have already parted ways with one of their former cornerstones -- Luol Deng, who was sent to the Cleveland Cavaliers through a salary-dumping trade earlier this month.
With the direction that the Bulls are currently taking, recent rumors indicated that the Bulls could also consider trading Joakim Noah either before the trade deadline next month or before the 2014 NBA Draft.
Earlier reports indicated that the Phoenix Suns are mulling offering several high draft picks to the Bulls in exchange for Noah, while the Los Angeles Lakers are also interested, but they don't have attractive assets to make a potential deal work for both teams.
SEE: Joakim Noah To Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Lakers?
But according to ESPN Chicago veteran analyst Doug Padilla, the Bulls are definitely not considering trading Noah despite the fact that doing so would give them additional financial relief and a potential star from the draft in the next few years.
Padilla noted that Noah, who is averaging 11.7 points and 11.4 rebounds per game this season, is one of the players the Bulls are planning to build around.
"His style, while unorthodox compared to other All-Star-caliber talent, perfectly fits the style of coach Tom Thibodeau. It only makes sense to build around Noah, not to mention Rose and even Jimmy Butler, instead of moving him in the hopes of acquiring another core-type player," Padilla noted.
NBA analyst Nick Friedell also gave his take on the rumored Noah trade before the deadline.
Friedell said that Noah is not untradeable like Rose, but he sees no reason why the Bulls will even think off parting ways with an All-Star caliber player -- not unless a player who can score more than 25 points a game will be offered in exchange for Noah.
"Noah is the heart and soul of this team and one of the main reasons they have turned their season around. He is by no means untradeable, but he shouldn't be moved unless the player coming back can score 25-30 a game next to Derrick Rose," Friedell noted.
Do you think the Bulls will pull the trigger on a potential trade for Joakim Noah?
What if the Knicks offer Carmelo Anthony, who can definitely score at least 25 points for the Bulls next season?
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