It seems like only yesterday Joakim Noah signed a massive four-year, $72 million deal with the New York Knicks.
Since that signing, which took place in 2016, Noah has appeared in just 53 of a possible 164 games due to a season-ending knee surgery and a dispute with then-Knicks head coach Jeff Hornacek. Now, the Knicks and Noah are reportedly on the brink of a split. Finally.
According to The Athletic's Shams Charania, the Knicks have continued to pursue potential trade partners for the veteran center but as no team is willing to take on the two years and $37.8 million left on his contract, a waive and stretch option on Noah's contract has become increasingly likely. Charania reports that the Knicks and Noah are expected to part ways before training camp which begins in roughly 10 days.
According to Yahoo Sports' Dan Devine, waiting until September to use the NBA’s waive-and-stretch provision allows the Knicks to spread the balance of his remaining contract into smaller cap hits over the next three years. Not to mention, the move will also open up a roster spot.
Noah, 33, has been linked to the Minnesota Timberwolves, aka the TimberBulls, because former Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau has already reunited with Derrick Rose, Jimmy Butler, Taj Gibson and, most recently, Luol Deng in the Twin Cities. However, Marc Stein of the New York Times reports that the Wolves have no current plans to pursue Noah if and when he becomes a free agent.