Veteran power forward Taj Gibson is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the current season and he is reportedly expecting to re-sign with the Chicago Bulls.

Gibson, 31, is playing in his eighth season in the NBA, all of them with the Bulls, and has been one of the most consistent players in Chicago so far. He used to be a regular bench player for the past several seasons, but this year he was promoted to become a full-time starter, although he had been starting games for head coach Fred Hoiberg since last season.

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"Taj has been terrific. He's a rock for us," said Hoiberg, via ESPN. "He does his job. He's never going to complain about his role. He's going to put on his hard hat and make the little plays that may not show up in the box score but help you win."

The Bulls are fifth in the East right now with a 13-10 record. Gibson's chemistry with the "Three Alphas" - Dwyane Wade, Rajon Rondo, and Jimmy Butler - is surprisingly well considering that Wade and Rondo are just recent acquisitions.

Gibson is averaging 12.1 points, 7.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.1 blocks in 28.7 minutes per game in 23 games so far this season. It was a marked improvement from his 8.6 points, 6.9 boards, 1.5 assists, and 1.1 blocks in 26.5 minutes averages last season.

With his consistency, it is expected that a lot of teams could send him offers once he hits unrestricted free-agency next summer.

"Of course I want to stay here," Gibson said when asked if he is planning to remain in Chicago next year, as per the Chicago Tribune.

"The amount of money I'm seeing guys making is ridiculous. But I'm going to remain humble," he said. "I'm going to stay focused and know I was blessed to get that last deal I got."

Gibson will be set to join other big-name power forwards in the 2017 free-agency period, such as Blake Griffin, Paul Millsap, Serge Ibaka, and Pau Gasol.

TagsNBA News & Rumors, NBA News & Rumors 2016, Taj Gibson, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Bulls rumors