Joakim Noah will be re-evaluated by team doctors to determine if he’ll be able to practice this week, Ian Begley of ESPN.com reports (Twitter links). Noah is looking at a 20-game suspension for violating the league’s drug policy, but his suspension can not begin until he is “eligible and physically ready to play.” Bobby Marks of The Vertical notes (via Twitter) that the league would want to see Noah go through a whole practice without complications before the suspension starts.
The center underwent microscopic knee surgery last month. He was expected to miss most, if not the remainder of the 2016/17 campaign. The Knicks have nine games remaining this season, including tonight’s tilt with the Pistons. Noah won’t be cleared for tonight’s game, but he could be cleared before the team’s game against Miami on Wednesday. That would allow him to serve eight of his 20 games this season and serve the remaining dozen games at the beginning of the 2017/18 campaign.
Before undergoing surgery, Noah was having a down year by his standards. He was averaging 5.0 points and 8.7 rebounds per game while sporting 15.2 player efficiency rating.
Disaster of a signing. Just idiotic.
As a Bulls fan, and HUGE Noah fan, I have to agree. He was 31 going on 39. Just had too many miles on those legs, and too many injuries. Was still a hard working guy and a pleasure to have in Chicago.