New York Knicks are looking to the future and building a team that will become a significant force in the NBA once again. It appears, however, that this future will not include their center Joakim Noah at every cost.
According to ESPN‘s sources, if Knicks are unable to find a trade partner for Noah and his two years, $37.8 million, contract, the team will use the NBA’s waive-and-stretch provision. This way they will have the 33-year-old off the team, and his salary cap hit divided into smaller amounts over the next three years.
After signing a four-year, $72 million contract with the New York Knicks in 2016, Joakim Noah’s career took a downward spiral shortly after. Due to various injuries, he was limited to 46 games in his first year with the team and averaged 5.0 points and 8.7 assists per game.
After missing the first part of the 2017-18 season due to another injury, Noah joined the team in November but only managed to be featured in seven games. He engaged in a heated verbal altercation with coach Jeff Hornacek and was absent from the team since.
Prior to joining Knicks, Joakim Noah was considered one of the league’s premier defenders. He was selected by the Chicago Bulls in 2007 NBA Draft with the ninth overall pick. He went on to earn two NBA All-Star selections and All-NBA First Team honors during his time in Chicago. Noah was also named NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 2014.
