Taj Gibson still waiting for a contract extension offer by the Chicago Bulls – NBA News
As the Chicago Bulls move closer to the start of the regular season, there is still one matter that needs their attention. The Bulls are still to decide whether they will offer Taj Gibson a contract extension, or let him become a free agent at the end of the season. The front office has till October 31st to reach a decision with Gibson, otherwise he would automatically be added to the free agent class next summer.
Gibson is quite hopeful that he will be able to reach an agreement with the team, and is looking forward to playing for the Bulls for the coming few years. His agent, Mark Bartelstein, told ESPNChicago.com that talks are ongoing with the Bulls front office.
“I'm hopeful. I'm always hopeful. This is where I want to stay, this is where I hopefully want to retire one day. So we'll have to wait and see,” said Gibson
The Bulls did not offer Omer Asik a contract extension before the regular season last year, which made him a restricted free agent in the offseason this year and open to receive offer sheets from other teams. The Houston Rockets offered Asik a contract that the Bulls were not willing to match, hence separating the two parties as Asik signed on with the Rockets as a starting centre. His loss will be felt by Chicago in the next season, as he was a consistent back-up to Joakim Noah in the Bulls frontcourt.
In the absence of Asik, Gibson will be asked to do more for the Bulls in the front court, and will have to pick up his game, particularly on the defensive end. He has been spending extra time in the Bulls practice facility working on his post moves.
"Just working on fundamentals, back-to-the-basket stuff with contact, just daily routine, just trying to get my timing right. Thibs really wants me to get down in the paint. He wants to get the ball down to me,” said Gibson.
With the upcoming season only two weeks away and the Bulls fully occupied with their training and preseason schedules, Gibson says that he has not really thought about his extension and is instead, trying to concentrate on the preseason games and improving his value to the team ahead of a tough season which will see the Bulls play the first half without their team leader Derrick Rose.
"I haven't even really thought about it to tell you the truth. The last couple days I haven't even heard any ... that's the last thing on my mind. My focus is on just winning games, and (I'm) ready for the season to start,” added Gibson.
Tags: