New NBA free-agency rumors have emerged that the Los Angeles Lakers could pursue Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah this summer if the team's pursuits for big men Hassan Whiteside and Festus Ezeli fail to materialize.

The 31-year-old former NBA Defensive Player of the Year awardee is allegedly included in the Lakers' short list of potential targets in the coming free-agency period, which also consists of Kevin Durant, DeMar DeRozan, Harrison Barnes, Al Horford, and Whiteside and Ezeli among others.

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However, of the players included in the list, signing Noah is getting to be one of the most practical scenarios that will happen as the former Florida standout is allegedly ready to leave Chicago in the summer because of internal issues with general manager Gar Forman.

According to Lakers Nation, citing Chicago Sun-Times' Joe Crowley, Noah, the ninth overall selection in the 2007 draft by the Bulls, had been saying to his teammates that he wants out of the team in his coming free-agency and is "done" with the franchise because he no longer trusts "the front office getting this in the right direction".

There were speculations that Noah's distrust was directed solely on GM Forman and not with Chicago's new head coach Fred Hoiberg, despite the animosity he and the latter had earlier in the season when he was demoted as a bench player for the first time in his nine-year career, all with the Bulls.

With Pau Gasol also set to exit via free-agency, the organization is said to be trying to woo Noah to stay, but it seems like the two-time NBA All-Star had already made his decision.

However, his agent Bill Duffy had been denying the rumors, saying that "there has been zero indication" that his client is keen on leaving Chicago, as per Chicago Tribune's KC Johnson.

Noah is presently recuperating from a shoulder injury, which will make his market value lower than expected. The Lakers are said to be willing to give him a sizeable deal if he decides to join them and their rebuilding efforts moving forward.

TagsNBA Free-Agency Rumors, NBA Free-Agency Rumors 2016, Lakers free-agency rumors, Los Angeles Lakers, Chicago Bulls, Joakim Noah