Joakim Noah was slowed by plantar fasciitis in his left foot last season and he hinted over the weekend that the injury isn't fully healed.

"I'm very confident, but it's still something that ... it's no joke and [the injury] put a lot of things in perspective for me," Noah said.

"Injuries are something that are very serious and something that I want to limit, so I understand that it's going to be a long season this year, and I think we're going to do real special things. To do that, I know that I have to be 100 percent. I think we're going to be OK, though."

The Bulls are Noah are believed to be discussing a contract extension. Without a long-term agreement, Noah would become a restricted free agent next summer.