Joakim Noah has said that he hopes to return to the Bulls next season, but there may be at least one more team he’s open to joining.
According to a report in the Orlando Sentinel, the soon-to-be free agent is interested in reuniting with former Florida teammate Al Horford on the Orlando Magic.
Noah and Horford, college roommates while with the Gators from 2004-2007, led Florida to back-to-back NCAA championships in 2006 and 2007 and according to the report, remain good friends. Horford has spent his entire career in Atlanta, but will also be a free agent following the conclusion of this season.
Noah is out for the remainder of the season after undergoing shoulder surgery last month, but his days in Chicago appeared to be numbered even before the injury.
Under first-year coach Fred Hoiberg, the big man was relegated to bench duty for the first time since his second year in the NBA. In 29 games this season, Noah was averaging less than 22 minutes per night and a career-low 4.3 points per game.
According to Sporting News, the Magic could have nearly $50 million to spend this summer following the unloading of a couple big contracts at Thursday’s trade deadline.
One interesting caveat: Noah to Orlando would mean him reuniting with former Bulls coach Scott Skiles, who the big man often clashed with during the first half of his rookie season.
Stats via ESPN
