Taj Gibson is entering the final year of his rookie contract and could become a restricted free agent next summer, but it doesn't sound as if he's overly eager to explore his options on the open market. According to Nick Friedell of ESPNChicago.com (via Twitter), Gibson has said he'd like to spend the rest of his career with the Bulls, and is "hopeful" that the two sides will work out a contract extension this month.
We've heard plenty of updates this month on Gibson's contract situation, with most reports suggesting that the big man is likely to land a new deal with Chicago before the October 31st deadline. Yesterday, ESPN.com's Marc Stein reported that he expected the Bulls and Gibson to agree on an extension, with Carlos Boozer likely being amnestied down the road.
When Ryan Raroque of Hoops Rumors examined Gibson's case for an extension, he suggested that a deal worth about $6MM annually could work for both sides. If the Bulls could lock up the 27-year-old for three or four years at that price, it'd be a coup for the team. I wouldn't be surprised if Gibson landed a slightly bigger payday, perhaps in the neighborhood of $30MM overall.
In my view it is insane to expect Gibson to sign for $6 mil a yr. If it is less than $9 mil I would be shocked. He has great RAPM and might get even better.
I would be shocked if a 27 year old who hasn’t been a starting player got 9$ mil a year.
Check your facts he has started 89 games in the 3 years he has been in the league, including 70 his rookie year. If Bulls were not paying Boozer so much he would be starting in a heart beat, overall he is better for our team than Boozer. Everyone knows it and most importantly Thibs does too, but as everyone says you cant pay a guy 80 million to sit on the bench.