The New York Knicks and veteran center Joakim Noah are expected to part ways before training camp starts, according to a report from Shams Charania of The Athletic.
The Knicks have continued to work trade calls, although waiving and stretching Noah’s contract will likely be the route the organization takes. New York has been unable to find a trade partner for Noah, who has two years and $38 million left on his deal.
Sources: The Knicks and center Joakim Noah are expected to part ways before training camp; team has continued to work trade calls, although waiving and stretching Noah's contract looms as a route.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 14, 2018
Noah signed a four-year, $72 million free agent deal with the Knicks in 2016 after spending the first nine years of his career with the Chicago Bulls. The former Defensive Player of the Year got into a heated argument with ex-coach Jeff Hornacek last season and that turned out to be the conclusion of Noah’s brief tenure with the Knicks.
In 46 games with the Knicks, Noah has averaged just 4.6 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. The 33-year-old hasn’t been the same player since undergoing a knee procedure in the summer of 2014 when he was still with the Bulls.
In February of 2017, the NBA suspended Noah 20 games for taking a banned substance – a suspension that cost him the first 12 games of the 2017-18 season. The two-time All-Star has career averages of 8.9 points and 9.3 rebounds in 625 NBA games.
The Minnesota Timberwolves have no current plans to pursue Joakim Noah once he enters the open market, according to a report from Marc Stein of The New York Times. The Timberwolves are coached by Tom Thibodeau and have Jimmy Butler, Derrick Rose, Taj Gibson and Luol Deng on the roster. All five guys are close with Noah and were together with the Bulls, causing many to surmise Noah would end up in Minnesota since Thibodeau has rounded up so many of his former players.
The Timberwolves, however, would need to go over the luxury tax to add another player.
