Joakim Noah has been estranged from the New York Knicks since the beginning of the season. Noah hardly ever got off the bench prior to an altercation with head coach Jeff Hornacek last month. According to Knicks reporter for ESPN, Ian Bagley, Hornacek commented on Noah’s future with the team.
“’We’ve moved on. I think maybe he’s ready to move on and maybe have an opportunity somewhere else.’ He indicated there is no immediate plan for Noah to return to the team. He wasn’t sure if Noah will continue to be away for the rest of the season.”
Joakim Noah was exiled from the team after he and Jeff Hornacek got into a heated confrontation during a practice session last month. The issue was allegedly due to the player’s lack of playing time. No punches were thrown but both had to be separated.
The 6-foot-11 center has been away from the team since then.
The Knicks tried to trade Noah before the deadline but his onerous contract proved to be a major deterrent to getting a deal done. Suffice it to say, no team would like to shoot itself in the foot by absorbing a past-his-prime player who also carries an albatross contract.
In 2016, the Knicks signed Noah to a four-year, $72 million contract as a free agent. At nearly $18 million due him this season, the two-time All-Star is one of the most expensive players not playing in the league.
The New York Post’s Marc Berman reported that Noah was seen last Saturday night at impresario Jimmy Goldstein’s All-Star Weekend party in Los Angeles. He was seen with Stephen Curry, who brought his wife, Ayesha, Joel Embiid and Danilo Gallinari.
The Knicks could cut Noah and use the stretch provision, but that would mean paying the former Florida Gator an average of $7.5 million over five seasons.
Selected ninth overall in the 2007 NBA Draft, Noah has appeared in just seven games this season in which he averaged meager numbers of 1.7 points and 2.0 rebounds on 5.7 minutes.
Follow Us
Subscribe