What to do with Taj Gibson? -MERGED

[MAQ]

I would trade him whenever you get the chance. His contract is bad news. I was an advocate of re-signing him over Asik because of Taj's defensive versatility, and the fact that he plays behind Boozer (a poor defender). In reality, they probably should have tried to trade them both.

Help the Rockets get Dwight, and get them to trade Asik back to us for Taj.

[BullsHOF]

I would trade him whenever you get the chance. His contract is bad news. I was an advocate of re-signing him over Asik because of Taj's defensive versatility, and the fact that he plays behind Boozer (a poor defender). In reality, they probably should have tried to trade them both.

Help the Rockets get Dwight, and get them to trade Asik back to us for Taj.

Make it happen GarPax.

[Red Larrivee]

$8M isn't bad for a 6th man, which he pretty much has been the last several years for us.

It is when you look around the league and see comparable players making less money. Jordan Hill, Carl Landry, Marreesse Speights, Brandan Wright and Jason Thompson are all as good as Taj, and none of them make $8M a year.

It's like when we paid Nocioni 5/40 to be Deng's backup, AFTER we gave Deng 6/72.

We're glad we have Taj than not, but the Bulls did a terrible job of making him a value deal.

[DJhitek]

$8M isn't bad for a 6th man, which he pretty much has been the last several years for us.

It is when you look around the league and see comparable players making less money. Jordan Hill, Carl Landry, Marreesse Speights, Brandan Wright and Jason Thompson are all as good as Taj, and none of them make $8M a year.

It's like when we paid Nocioni 5/40 to be Deng's backup, AFTER we gave Deng 6/72.

We're glad we have Taj than not, but the Bulls did a terrible job of making him a value deal.

Always felt that Taj's contract was too much, he is a great player to have on a cheap deal. But when you pay him, his offense doesn't nearly come close to substantiating the money he makes. He will start eventually, but man he has to become more reliable as an offensive player or he will be a detriment on that side of the ball.

[AAU Teammate]

It is when you look around the league and see comparable players making less money. Jordan Hill, Carl Landry, Marreesse Speights, Brandan Wright and Jason Thompson are all as good as Taj, and none of them make $8M a year.

Taj is elite on one side of the ball, these guys are elite at nothing. I like Speights but Taj isnt an overpay because Speights happens to make less. Taj would be an overpay if Taj happens to be an overpay.

[qianlong]

I think he is slightly overpaid, 6-7 milions was the good number. Even as it is i prefer taj for 8 than boozer at 15. Try to move boozer first. That said taj can be moved more easily and has better value and is not irrepleceable so if he is a piece of a deal for a bigger fish trade him.

[Red Larrivee]

Taj is elite on one side of the ball, these guys are elite at nothing. I like Speights but Taj isnt an overpay because Speights happens to make less. Taj would be an overpay if Taj happens to be an overpay.

Taj is a better defender of all those guys, but compare their production and it's pretty much in the same ballpark. Brandan Wright for example had a 21 PER, 2.4 blks per 36, 8.1 rebounds per 36, and made the minimum the past two seasons.

Dantown made a good point at looking at the entire roster and not just that one skill as support to pay him $8M. I value what he brings, but under the new CBA, that isn't a great investment.

[Jimako10]

His contract hasn't even kicked in yet. Do people really want to Andray Blatche him already?

[RoseTheFuture22]

$8M isn't bad for a 6th man, which he pretty much has been the last several years for us.

It is when you look around the league and see comparable players making less money. Jordan Hill, Carl Landry, Marreesse Speights, Brandan Wright and Jason Thompson are all as good as Taj, and none of them make $8M a year.

It's like when we paid Nocioni 5/40 to be Deng's backup, AFTER we gave Deng 6/72.

We're glad we have Taj than not, but the Bulls did a terrible job of making him a value deal.

The only ones I'd put in the same category as Taj is Landry(although his defense is as bad or worse than Taj's offense) and maybe Speights.

Taj was going to get paid regardless of whether or not it was by us or not because he can block shots and rebound and isn't a total offensive liability and in his prime. A couple of years ago I think Denver threw Udonis Haslem something in the ballpark of $8M per year before Miami resigned him

[Red Larrivee]

The only ones I'd put in the same category as Taj is Landry(although his defense is as bad or worse than Taj's offense) and maybe Speights.

Taj was going to get paid regardless of whether or not it was by us or not because he can block shots and rebound and isn't a total offensive liability and in his prime. A couple of years ago I think Denver threw Udonis Haslem something in the ballpark of $8M per year before Miami resigned him

Dallas offered Haslem 3yr/$20M, which is a similar contract signed by Brandon Bass. He instead re-signed with Miami for 5yr/$20M. These are value deals, assuming you can maintain your level of production. Bass didn't this year. Haslem struggled until recently.

Taj is 4/33, for an average a little over $8M a year. He's a great defender, a serviceable, but declining rebounder, and a really good athlete. Offensively he gets rebounds and can finish in traffic. Nothing more. I wouldn't consider that an $8M/year player, though I certainly would like to have that player on my team.

[League Circles]

I like Taj a lot but if Thibbs isn't willing to play him as the primary backup C (which may or may not be smart), I think we should trade him if we extend Deng. Both to retain salary flexibility and to boost the offense by having Boozer and Deng, and later Mirotic and Deng, split all the minutes at the 4 spot.

[IWannaGoHIGHER]

Always have hated the Taj contract, he's overpaid pure and simple. He's not a starter for a championship team, and we can get a 6th man to do reasonably close to what he does for a lot cheaper. The Bulls thought he'd take another step they made a dumb gamble and they lost. But the reality is if we are going to be bring Mirotic next summer, with Deng's contract up, and us looking for that next "big piece" we are going to need his cap space. I think the only thing we can do with him is trade him at some point.

[Doom]

he's overpaid and isn't good enough for that salary. maybe this season it was because of the sprained MCL, who knows. he needs to step up his game or should be traded

[TheFix]

Just another guy who played for money and stopped trying afterward.

[PMONSTER]

he's overpaid and isn't good enough for that salary. maybe this season it was because of the sprained MCL, who knows. he needs to step up his game or should be traded

Hence the dilemma.......

If he plays like he did last year, he's here to stay

If he plays like he did two years ago, he's here to stay

[CBS7]

Love Taj but he never deserved 8 million a year. At least not in his role.

Who knows, maybe if he could put up 13/9 with elite defense in Boozer's place, he would. But as an 8/5 pure backup, he deserved 5-6 million a year at most.

Its tough, because hes a good player, but you can't pay backups that kind of money.

[BullsHOF]

Taj is elite on one side of the ball, these guys are elite at nothing. I like Speights but Taj isnt an overpay because Speights happens to make less. Taj would be an overpay if Taj happens to be an overpay.

Taj is a better defender of all those guys, but compare their production and it's pretty much in the same ballpark. Brandan Wright for example had a 21 PER, 2.4 blks per 36, 8.1 rebounds per 36, and made the minimum the past two seasons.

Dantown made a good point at looking at the entire roster and not just that one skill as support to pay him $8M. I value what he brings, but under the new CBA, that isn't a great investment.

Are you really using PER for a guy like Taj? He got paid for 3 things. Elite defense, ability to guard multiple positions, and PERFECT fit for Thibs defense. Numbers don't really help your case.

[Jimako10]

Taj did start off slow (maybe because of his contract situation, same thing happened to Noah), but he was pretty good during January-March. He sprained his MCL in late feb/early march, reinjured his knee, and really was never the same. I still think Taj has a value contract if you put him as a starter and give him 36 minutes a game, he very likely will get 14-9 with elite defense (when healthy), and that is definitely worth his contract. Same thing happened with Asik, people doubted if he was worth the money because he was just a "backup center", and now his contract is a bargain.

[BullsHOF]

Are you guys forgetting how elite Taj's defense is, when he's healthy?

Try to replace him with some random "defensive" PF, and you guys will soon realize why the Bulls made it a priority to keep him.

[ChiCitySPORTS#1]

When healthy he is an ideal PF for us defensively. Does everything we need him to do. Wish he could develop that jumper a little more doe.