The Grizzlies are expected to meet with veteran center Joakim Noah late next week to finalize a deal, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link).
As we relayed earlier this week, Memphis and Noah have had “extensive discussions” since he was waived by the Knicks last month. Noah, 33, spent two seasons in New York after signing a four-year, $72MM deal with the team in 2016. The Knicks stretched Noah’s $19.3MM salary for 2019/20 across three years.
That deal did not work out as he appeared in just 53 games over that two-year stretch. In his first season with the Knicks, Noah did post respectable numbers of 5.0 PPG, 8.8 RPG, and 2.2 APG in 46 games (22.1 MPG). Ultimately, Noah was sent away from the team last spring after a run-in with then-coach Jeff Hornacek.
Memphis waived Andrew Harrison last month to open a spot on their 15-man roster and were rumored to be seeking a veteran big man to fill the vacancy. Since they used their bi-annual exception last season and committed their entire mid-level exception to Kyle Anderson, the Grizzlies – who are near the luxury tax threshold – can only offer a minimum salary contract.
Real good news, a guy like Noah didn’t deserve to just fade away, hopefully he will get the chance to retire on his own terms… meanwhile he can definitely be of help in Memphis. Between him & Gasol, both former DPOY, will be able to help JJJ improve his defence.
Noah is a very hard working player, if nothing else he will be great in the locker room. If he still has anything left, a cheap pickup for a very tenacious defender great passer, and decent rebounder who needs to be on the court with some shooters, or things get ugly.