The New York Knicks and 33-year-old center Joakim Noah are expected to part ways prior to training camp, reports Shams Charania of The Athletic.
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
In his Chicago Bulls days, Noah was a tremendous player; in 2014 he won Defensive Player of the Year and was named to the first team All-NBA.
Four years later, however, those days are long gone. Noah really isn’t even thought of as a player anymore, but as an overly large number on a salary sheet. His basketball identity is consumed by his contract; he is entering year three of a four-year deal worth more than $72 million. For the production he brings these days (pretty much none; he played 40 total minutes last season).
If Noah is waived and picked up on a minimum contract, however, his value could be altered. On a minimum deal, rather than a massive one, perhaps he could even outplay his pricetag.
Several teams will likely give Noah looks if he’s bought out, perhaps including the Minnesota Timberbullswolves
