The Chicago Bulls announced power forward Taj Gibson had undergone arthroscopic surgery on his left ankle. The surgery was completed today in Indianapolis. The team said that Gibson will be out for four months, and will not be able to partake in any basketball activity until mid-September.
Taj Gibson played 62 games last year averaging 10.3 points and 6.4 rebounds per game. This injury puts Gibson’s status for Bulls training camp in doubt.
This injury will have setback the Bulls plans this offseason, as Gibson was rumoured to be on the Trade block. Gibson is a very strong talent, who many would have looked to make a part of their organisation this summer. But this injury will quash much of the interest in Gibson, considering the surgery and the fact that the forward has just turned 30.
Taj Gibson is definitely a talent when healthy. One of the strongest players coming off the bench in the whole NBA, Gibson’s future is a bit in limbo as many reports indicated that the Bulls were looking to move on without him. With the ulls having just hired a new coach in Fred Hoiberg, Gibson’s future on the team is even more uncertain. Bull’s Coach Fred Hoiberg has not yet commented on Taj Gibson’s future with the Bulls, neither has the team’s general manager Gar Forman.
I expect Taj Gibson to still be a member of the Bulls organisation come the start of next season, and the injury will of course play a big part in that. But don’t be surprised if Gibson is part of a trade come mid-season, as the last thing the Bulls want is to lose him for nothing when he becomes a free agent next summer.
Main Photo: Chicago Bulls forward Taj Gibson reacts as he looks at a score board after missing a basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Indiana Pacers in Chicago on Saturday, March 23, 2013. (Getty Images/Nam Y. Huh)
