Bulls never seemed to grasp the true value of Taj Gibson

MINNEAPOLIS — Drafting point guard Derrick Rose in 2008 was a no-brainer.

The same almost could be said for big man Lauri Markkanen, after the Bulls swapped picks with the Timberwolves in the 2017 NBA Draft and acquired his rights.

So before Bulls general manager Gar Forman pats himself on the back for his recent drafting history, it should be pointed out that he hasn’t gone out on a limb when he has had high selections.

Drafting swingman Jimmy Butler 30th overall in 2011 was, without a doubt, Forman’s best work. But one of Forman’s sneaky-good picks was a player he and the Bulls never seemed to value like they should have.

Power forward Taj Gibson is still alive and kicking in the NBA.

‘‘I get to get up, work out and play the game I love, which I would do for free on any given day,’’ Gibson said Saturday, when his Timberwolves defeated the Bulls 111-96. ‘‘Everybody’s journey is different. You look at my rookie year [2009], my draft class, so many guys gone. So many guys not playing basketball anymore. Look at the guys that were starting ahead of me when I was on the Bulls, on my team, when I was coming off the bench, and a lot of them aren’t even in the NBA. I’m still very thankful of the moment, of the opportunity that I get and how I learn every day.’’

Sounds like a veteran presence the Bulls (5-15) really could use these days because youth and a lack of depth have caught up with their roster.

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And they had him — until they traded him and small forward Doug McDermott to the Thunder for point guard Cameron Payne at the trade deadline in February 2017.

Payne basically doesn’t play when the players in front of him are healthy, and Gibson is considered one of the best teammates in the league. And Gibson is making $14 million this season, while the Bulls are paying Jabari Parker $20 million.

Need further evidence of what Gibson means to a locker room? While Rose was being criticized by the media in his last few seasons with the Bulls, Gibson always had his back. While Butler was all but holding the Timberwolves hostage with his trade demand early this season, Gibson acknowledged how big a distraction it was but still had Butler’s back.

‘‘He texted me two nights ago,’’ Gibson said. ‘‘We’re still in contact. That’s like family, so I’m always going to be on his side. I wish him well [with the 76ers]. He’s happy; he’s playing well. He’s in a good situation for himself, so nothing but positive things.’’

Gibson also called Bulls swingman Denzel Valentine, whom he played with for less than a season, after finding out Valentine was leaning toward having the same reconstructive ankle surgery he had in 2015.

‘‘I called him the night before he decided, and I told him that was the right thing to do,’’ Gibson said. ‘‘You’ve got to take care of your body. Understand that I know you want to play, but this is bigger than basketball right now; this is your career. So take that time off, and you can come back for Summer League. Maybe play that, maybe not, but you’ll be in good form coming into next year.

‘‘Yeah, I called him.’’

Of course, he did.