NBA Rumors: Latest Buzz Surrounding Mike Conley, Festus Ezeli and More

The NBA playoffs offer quite the interesting precursor to this summer’s free agency.

Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Kevin Durant leads the way, of course, but don’t forget guys like Al Horford, Chandler Parsons, Mike Conley and perhaps even Dwight Howard.

The above is just a sampling of the names perhaps ready to take to the market, if not find new homes and reshape the complexion of the Association. Plus, with the conference semifinals almost in the books, the rumors only continue to gain more steam.

Below, let’s examine the latest before the floodgates open up and it’s much harder to keep pace.

Joakim Noah’s Future

It seems things are close to blowing up in Chicago if the Bulls front office doesn’t play this summer in a smart manner.

Despite a core led by Jimmy Butler and Pau Gasol, Chicago just couldn’t get it done in a so-so Eastern Conference and might lose the latter in free agency. 

Also at risk of leaving? Longtime leader Joakim Noah. Now 31 years old, Noah only received an average of 21.9 minutes per game before an injury last year, and he was another guy none too happy with how the Bulls performed.

K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune confirmed this and went on to reveal the front office plans on bringing the big man back: “The Bulls, mindful that there is plenty of work to do to re-sign him, will engage in discussions with Noah when he becomes an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his career July 1.”

Does Noah want to be back?

It’s got to be an odd feeling for Noah to see his playing time go to Gasol and leadership responsibilities go to Butler, then have the team call on him in free agency because Gasol could jump ship.

Noah will have plenty of options on the market, too. He’s over the dreaded age of 30 but is a high-energy guy and rim protector who can contribute. While the quietest part of the drama in Chicago, he certainly …

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