Bulls Notes: Hoiberg, Brooks, Noah

The Bulls are still struggling to find their identity under new coach Fred Hoiberg, but the Chicago front office remains confident that Hoiberg is the right man for the job, Nick Friedell of ESPN.com writes. Power forward Taj Gibson recalled a similar situation when former coach Tom Thibodeau was hired, Friedell adds. “It didn’t come quick,” Gibson said. “But then he just started cracking the whip and everybody got in to follow suit. And then everybody just followed his lead and we just developed a killer mentality just following his lead. I think Fred’s doing a good job. We just have to play harder for him.”

Regarding the team’s early season struggles, center Joakim Noah told Friedell, “You don’t want to be on a team when you feel like we’re not giving max effort. But I think it’s a little deeper than that. But we just got to stick together and find a way as a team. It’s not about pointing fingers at anybody, it’s about jelling as a unit. Not letting frustration get in the way, not letting adversity get in the way. It’s a lot easier said than done. So I think that as a team we have to stick together through that adversity. I think sometimes we let that adversity get the best of us.”

Here’s more from the Windy City:

• Aaron Brooks didn’t expect to re-sign with the Bulls this past offseason because he believed that the team was planning to use the No. 22 overall pick this past June on a point guard, K.C. Johnson of The Chicago Tribune relays. The team had every intention of snagging a point guard in the 2015 NBA draft but changed course when power forward Bobby Portis was still available when the Bulls were set to make their selection, Johnson notes.
• In response to a reader question regarding Noah’s future in Chicago, Johnson opined that if Chicago’s offer is competitive with others in the free agent marketplace, then he expects the big man to re-sign with the team. Johnson did offer a caveat, speculating that if another team offers him a larger role or a significantly higher salary, it would make Noah’s decision extremely difficult, especially given his desire to play more than he has thus far this season.