In the midst of a late-game fiasco against the Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks center Joakim Noah has put himself in a questionable position.
According to Marc Berman of The New York Post, the Knicks have shifted to a more aggressive stance in hopes of trading Noah's massive, four-year, $72 million contract, which he signed in the offseason of 2016.
Frustrated by the lack of minutes and lack of an existent role within Jeff Hornacek's team, the 6-foot-11 big man took a leave of absence for what the Knicks described as “personal reasons” and left the club Thursday morning in Denver — an absence that could mark his last stint in orange and blue.
Hornacek indicated there’s a chance Noah would be back after the Knicks end their six-game road trip against the Western Conference on Friday in Phoenix, but wouldn't commit to an actual date for his return, in what remains like muddy waters for the veteran center.
Teams around the league have been wary of Noah's contract and the way he's been plagued by injuries since his exit from Chicago.
Article Continues BelowWith an overblown contract and far from the production he provided as a defensive anchor for the Bulls, this salary dump could prove tougher to pull off.
Noah played in only five minutes against the defending champs, scoring two points and grabbing one rebound before making his final exit.
According to Berman's source, Noah looked anguished as he came off the court and said something to Hornacek on his way to the bench.
“I thought that could be a problem,’’ said the source who witnessed Noah’s exit. “His feelings were hurt. He was pissed.’’