Recent rumors are out that NBA All-Star center Joakim Noah could leave the Chicago Bulls to go to the Western Conference with the Dallas Mavericks as he becomes a free agent in the summer.

The 31-year-old two-time All-Star is in the final year of his five-year, $60 million contract with the Bulls this season that will make him an unrestricted free agent this July and all indications point to the fact that he will not stay in Chicago anymore to continue his so far nine-year career.

Like Us on Facebook

Noah had been linked with several teams in the past, namely the Los Angeles Lakers, Atlanta Hawks, and the Sacramento Kings, but it is a possible move to the Mavericks that has become the loudest in the past few months.

Dallas Morning News' Matt Mosley said that if ever Noah picks the Mavs as his next team this summer, then he "would bring energy" to Dallas and "fans would probably fall in love with him".

Mosley noted, though, that even though Noah plays better defense than the current Mavericks starting center Zaza Pachulia, the former Florida Gator would still be no match for Detroit's Andre Drummond or LA's DeAndre Jordan.

"Kevin Durant is the only player who could transform a franchise. And that's not happening," Mosley said, implying that acquiring Noah this offseason will not matter in the big picture.

Meanwhile, Northern Voices Online indicated that Noah is not a good fit in new Bulls head coach Fred Hoiberg's floor spacing system, which could lead to him not receiving a new contract with Chicago.

The report also said that the 2014 NBA Defensive Player of the Year is "more of a traditional center" that would thrive best in the conventional half-court offense and that Hoiberg seems to be favoring Pau Gasol's game more than the New York native's.

Hoiberg's insertion of Gasol's fellow Spaniard Nikola Mirotic in the starting lineup during mid-season to replace Noah clearly shows that the coach is slowly losing faith in the ninth overall pick of the 2007 NBA Draft.

TagsNBA rumors, NBA Rumors 2016, Bulls rumors, Bulls rumors 2016, Joakim Noah, Chicago Bulls, Dallas Mavericks