Former Bull Noah could make title run with Clippers
Joakim Noah is gearing up for a possible playoff run. According to multiple reports, the former Bulls center will sign a 10-day contract with the Los Angeles Clippers next week and has a chance to stay for the rest of the season if all goes well.
Noah, 35, played for the Memphis Grizzlies last season, appearing in 42 games after agreeing to a buyout with the Knicks.
There were reports of the Lakers and Dallas Mavericks showing interest in Noah. But on Jan. 29, he revealed in an Instagram post that he was four months removed from Achilles surgery.
The post featured a video of Noah running on a track and included in the caption, "Four months post Achilles surgery and I'm back on the track. My goal is to get back out there and compete. I've had many surgeries but coming back from this would be very rewarding."
After nine seasons with the Bulls, Noah left as a free agent in the summer of 2016 and signed with the Knicks. There aren't many connections with the current Bulls. Cristiano Felicio is the only player who was a teammate of Noah, while coach Jim Boylen was in his first season as a Bulls assistant in 2015-16.
"That's awesome," Boylen said Friday. "I know he likes California too. One year when he was here, I went and visited him and we went to the beach in L.A. and went swimming. I'm really happy for him. Jo's got a good heart, he's a tough guy and he's a hard-playing guy."
Boylen cool with Collins:
Bulls coach Jim Boylen refuted a report that there was a rift between he and team consultant Doug Collins.
"(The relationship is) really good," Boylen said before Friday's game. "I'm not sure exactly how that report came to be, but those things happen, I guess. Doug doesn't work for me, he was hired by ownership and management, so all my interactions with Doug have been very positive.
"He's been in my meetings, he's been on the floor with the team. But I don't control his schedule or if he's here or if he's not here. That's not what I do. We've had a very good and a very close relationship since he's been here."
Boylen has raved a few times this season about his relationship with Collins, the longtime NBA head coach and broadcaster. Boylen said he did not ask that Collins be banned from his coaches' meetings, as was reported.
Asked when was the last time he spoke to Collins, Boylen answered, "It's been a while. I know he had some issues going on with his family and he's going back and forth to Philadelphia, but I haven't talked to him in a while."
Bulls horns:
Zach LaVine could be back soon from a left quad strain. The Bulls' leading scorer missed his third straight game Friday due to the injury. But coach Jim Boylen said LaVine plans to practice Saturday and is a possibility to play Sunday afternoon in Brooklyn. ...
Coby White's hot streak has stretched to six straight games and Boylen said he does envision White joining the starting lineup. The rookie guard continued to come off the bench Friday against Indiana. "There might be a time that that happens, absolutely," Boylen said. "There could be a time when we look at this thing and our situation and Coby takes on a different role. We'll see how that goes."