The New York Knicks head into the 2019 season with a murky outlook thanks to an interesting blend of veterans and young pieces, along with an injury to franchise centerpiece Kristaps Porzingis.
A full-blown rebuild has yet to commence in New York, but the Knicks made a roster move that will rid them of an older reserve on an outlandish contract. According to ESPN’s Ian Begley and Adrian Wojnarowski, the Knicks will waive and stretch veteran center Joakim Noah.
Sources with @ianbegley: Knicks center Joakim Noah has no traction on an open roster spot elsewhere in NBA, so he’s remained unwilling to agree to a buyout. New York simply waiving and stretching the $38M owed him likely comes soon.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 13, 2018
Update: Sources with @IanBegley: Knicks will waive Joakim Noah today. https://t.co/5989RN1GUW
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 13, 2018
Wojnarowski adds that stretching Noah will still take a cap hit of $6.4 million over three years starting in 2019 for the Knicks.
The waive and stretch provision with Noah will leave the Knicks a $6.4M annual cap hit for three seasons starting in 2019-20.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 13, 2018
Though it took the Knicks just days before the season to make the transaction, they were expected to move on from Joakim Noah for months now. New York likely shopped Noah on the trade market in search for a partner but to no avail thanks to his lucrative deal.
Noah joined the Knicks prior to the 2016 season but only played in 53 games for the club. In those limited appearances, Noah averaged 4.6 points and 7.9 rebounds in slightly under 20 minutes per game.
