With the NBA salary cap set to spike this offseason thanks to the league's lucrative new TV deal, free agents hitting the open market will have the opportunity to cash in like no other players before them. That, in itself, is a powerful enough incentive to convince players to test the waters. But discontent with their current teams is another factor that may push some big names out the door.
Take Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah, for example. Despite being hampered by injuries over the past two seasons, Noah could still command a pretty penny from a team optimistic about his ability to return to form in 2016. Plus, Noah has reportedly been telling teammates that he will be leaving this offseason due to a lack of faith in the front office.
"Noah has been telling teammates in recent weeks that he was done with the organization once free agency begins, and 'has no trust in the front office getting this in the right direction,' according to a Bulls player," Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun Times wrote.
However, Noah's agent, Bill Duffy, has refuted Cowley's report, according to K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune:
Bill Duffy, Noah's agent: "Joakim and I speak on daily about his future. There has been zero indication he doesn't wish to return to Bulls."
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) May 25, 2016
Of course, that could just be a well-played game of good cop, bad cop.
Noah has been the heart and soul of the Bulls since being selected with the No. 9 overall pick in the 2007 draft. The 31-year-old is known for his defensive prowess, intensity and energy on the court. In 2014, he was named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year.
But Noah's health still looms large as a question mark heading into free agency. The big man appeared in just 29 games this past season and missed 15 during the 2014-15 season. He'll have to convince teams that he's 100 percent as he angles for a big new deal.
Other big men expected to hit the open market this summer include Miami's Hassan Whiteside, Golden State's Festus Ezeli and Toronto's Bismack Biyombo.
