Joakim Noah, Wolves Have Mutual Interest?

The Wolves, and particularly new coach Tom Thibodeau, have targeted Joakim Noah, who will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, Mitch Lawrence of The Sporting News reports. Noah has interest in Minnesota and in rejoining his former coach, according to Lawrence.

Noah would be a good fit for the Wolves because he would add a veteran presence and fill a leadership role on a young team, Lawrence writes. There have been reports that Noah is ready to leave the Bulls when he becomes a free agent this summer, but recent talks between the big man and the team have resulted in a “positive dialogue” about a new contract. Noah, 31, has spent all of his nine NBA seasons in Chicago.

Noah didn’t always see eye to eye with first-year head coach Fred Hoiberg, who removed Noah from the starting lineup early in the season. The big man thrived under Thibodeau, however. Noah underwent surgery on his separated left shoulder back in January, and while he should be ready to go for the 2016/17 campaign, he hasn’t played a game since that procedure. In 2015/16, he appeared in just 29 games, averaging 4.3 points, 8.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists in 21.9 minutes per contest.

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