AP Source: Bulls, Noah agree to 5-year contract extension

AP Source: Bulls, Noah agree to extension

CHICAGO — Center Joakim Noah and the Chicago Bulls agreed Sunday on a five-year contract extension, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.

The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the deal has not been finalized.

The news about Noah comes on a day when the Bulls learned that Carlos Boozer, their top acquisition this summer, broke a bone in his right hand in a fall at home and could be out about two months.

The Chicago Tribune reported the deal is worth about $11 million annually with incentives that could take it higher.

Noah is coming off a breakout season in which he averaged 10.7 points and 11.0 rebounds while battling plantar fasciitis in his left foot that kept him out of 18 games. His name surfaced in sign-and-trade rumors involving the Big Three free agents — LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh — this summer.

Instead, those All-Stars united in Miami and the Bulls wound up with Boozer, giving Chicago an inside scoring presence and another top rebounder to go with Noah in what they think will be a top-tier front line.

They’ll have to wait to see them together, though.

Boozer fractured the fifth metacarpal bone in his hand and will need surgery, the team said Sunday. He was evaluated by team physician Dr. Brian Cole and hand specialist Dr. Marc Cohen of Midwest Orthopedics at Rush, one of the nation’s top sports medicine centers.

Boozer spent the previous six years with Utah and averaged 19.5 points and 11.2 rebounds last season before joining the Bulls in a sign-and-trade deal.

A two-time All-Star, Boozer has a five-year deal worth about $75 million. Besides helping Noah underneath, the Bulls are counting on him to give star point guard Derrick Rose an option on the pick-and-roll.

The Bulls hired Tom Thibodeau as their new coach and also added Ronnie Brewer, Keith Bogans and Kyle Korver in the offseason to try to move deeper into the postseason after consecutive first-round playoff eliminations.

Chicago begins preseason play Tuesday night.