By John Jackson (Chicago Suntimes)As it turns out, Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau won’t have to physically remove center Joakim Noah from the plane today when the team leaves for Los Angeles and the start of a five-game road trip.
Thibodeau said Monday that Noah will make the trip, his first since having thumb surgery in mid-December. The cast that Noah had been wearing since last week — when a pin from the original surgery was removed — was cut off Monday, and he could be cleared to participate in the noncontact portion of practice today.
“He’ll start the noncontact part of practice, then from there he’ll move on to the contact part of practice,” Thibodeau said. “Once he can practice with contact, he’ll be able to play [in a game].
“He’s still pretty much on schedule. The way we’re looking at it, right after the All-Star break.”
Last week, Noah jokingly told the coach that he was getting on the plane for the trip regardless.
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