The Derrick Rose trade has addressed one void and created another. The question is, should the New York Knicks sign Joakim Noah to start at center?
The New York Knicks have embraced to the immediate necessity to make the playoffs. The moves made by the front office may or may not result in such a result, but Phil Jackson is displaying the desired sense of urgency.
if you somehow haven’t heard by now, the Knicks traded Jose Calderon, Jerian Grant, and Robin Lopez to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for Derrick Rose, Justin Holiday, and a 2017 second-round draft pick.
The Bulls are trading Rose to the Knicks for Robin Lopez, Jerian Grant and bigger package, sources tell @TheVertical
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 22, 2016
The Knicks are going all-in on Rose during his contract year.
Though the acquisition of Rose has its merits, the Knicks lost one of the most valuable players on the roster in Lopez. He’s the team’s starting center, and that’s a void that New York could struggle to fill for the same affordable contract Lopez was playing on.
One of the names who has arisen as a potential option in free agency is Rose’s longtime teammate Joakim Noah, per Ian Begley of ESPN New York.
"With Derrick Rose on board, some in the Knicks organization want to make a run at Bulls center – and soon to be free agent – Joakim Noah, sources say. Noah is close with Rose and has a good relationship with Knicks star Carmelo Anthony. He also grew up in New York."
Rose would love to see Noah come to New York.
Derrick Rose on free-agent Joakim Noah: "Oh, I want him... He knows that I want to play with him."
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) June 24, 2016
Noah, a New York native, certainly makes sense for the Knicks.
Noah’s had his ups and downs over the past two years, but he’s one of the most decorated defensive players of this era. Thus, while the risk certainly exists, there’s just as much reason to believe that pursuing him would be the correct move.
The question is, what would the pros and cons be of such a move?
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