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Knicks Rumors: Pros And Cons Of Pursuing Joakim Noah

By Maxwell Ogden

Oct 6, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah (13) practices before the game against the Milwaukee Bucks at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 6, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah (13) practices before the game against the Milwaukee Bucks at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 8, 2015; Boulder, CO, USA; Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah (13) watches from the bench after injuring his leg during the first half against the Denver Nuggets at Coors Events Center. The Nuggets won 112-94. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 8, 2015; Boulder, CO, USA; Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah (13) watches from the bench after injuring his leg during the first half against the Denver Nuggets at Coors Events Center. The Nuggets won 112-94. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports /

Con: Opportunity Cost

The general consensus around the NBA was that Joakim Noah could be had on an affordable contract. That made Noah significantly more appealing than many of the other centers who could command a max contract.

According to Mitch Lawrence of Sporting News, the Washington Wizards are prepared to offer Noah a max contract starting at $28 million.

"According to sources, the Wiz are locked in on making a major offer to Joakim Noah. The Wizards are said to be willing to offer Noah, coming off shoulder surgery that KO’d him in January, a full maximum contract. His deal would start at $28 million and reach around $120 million over four seasons."

Noah would be the perfect player for the New York Knicks, but handing a four-year max contract to a 31-year-old coming off of multiple seasons with injuries would be tough to justify.

The good news: the report that Washington will offer Noah a max contract doesn’t appear to be true.

As previously alluded to, Noah missed 15 games in 2014-15, and wasn’t nearly as effective as he was just a season earlier. In 2015-16, he missed 53 games and shot just 38.3 percent from the field during the injury-plagued games that he did play.

With his 32nd birthday falling near the 2017 All-Star Game, it’d be hard to justify paying an aging and injury-riddled player max money.

Noah offers many reasons to appreciate what he brings to the table. One simply cannot envision the New York Knicks handing out a max contract to an aging player who’d be a complementary force, and not the featured star, alongside Kristaps Porzingis.

If the Knicks can land Noah for a more reasonable price, then he’d be the perfect target.

Next: Pro

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