Joakim Noah sent a congratulatory message to David Fizdale this week, but it’s doubtful he will ever play for the new Knicks coach, writes Marc Berman of The New York Post.
The most likely resolution to Noah’s time in New York is a stretch-provision waiver after September 1, Berman adds. Waiting until then would lock in his $18.53MM salary for next season and would allow the team to stretch the $19.295MM he is owed in 2019/20 over three years. That would open up about $12MM in cap room for next summer when the Knicks hope to be aggressive on the free agent market.
Before that happens, the organization will spend the offseason trying to find a team willing to trade for Noah, who played just seven games this season and ended the year on an extended leave of absence after clashing in practice with former coach Jeff Hornacek.
It’s possible that the team brings Noah into training camp before making a final determination, Berman states. Enes Kanter [$18.6MM] and Kyle O’Quinn [$4.3MM] both have opt-out clauses and could be lost in free agency, leaving Noah and rookie Luke Kornet as the only centers on the roster. The Knicks can wait until the cut-down date in mid-October without losing any of the benefits of stretching Noah’s contract.
“I’m not putting a ceiling on anybody,” Fizdale said during his press conference on Tuesday. “Whoever is on our team in front of me is going to get my full attention to investment. He’s obviously given me fits from back in the days. I’ve got some Noah nightmares from when he was in Chicago, some of those wars.”
I don’t know that I would stretch Noah. Yes, he’s been a train wreck, but I wouldn’t sign Kanter long term, and even if they can land O’Quinn for a reasonable buck, you need the Center.
Maybe a fresh start with Fiz will help, and with Zinger gone for most or all of next year, Knicks should make no attempt to win. Noah will most likely help with that.
Get a wing like Mikal this year, add guys on one year deals, get another high pick next year, and Noah’s expiring deal may become a trade chip in a year’s time.
If, by “after September 1” 2018, he means July, 2019, then I can see it IF it will give them cap space and they have a FA to use it on. They won’t know that until July, 2019. Doing it after September 1, but prior to July, 2019 doesn’t open up the cap space until July, 2019 in any event. The only effect would be to help Noah by freeing him up earlier. Not sure why they would accommodate him to their detriment.