The New York Knicks are reportedly pulling away in the Joakim Noah sweepstakes. Can team president Phil Jackson close the deal?
The New York Knicks’ search for an upgrade at center may have ended before it officially began. Multiple outlets are reporting that New York is all but guaranteed to sign one of the biggest names on the open market to fill the void at the 5.
According to Marc Stein of ESPN, the Knicks are pulling away as the heavy favorites to sign Joakim Noah.
Have heard the same lament from multiple interested teams tonight: They see New York as a big favorite to land Joakim Noah in free agency.
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 30, 2016
The Knicks have built such a comfortable lead over the competition that opposing general managers are no longer considering Noah an option in free agency.
The phrasing tends to be the same from every team we ask with Joakim Noah interest: We don't have a chance because the Knicks are his choice
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 30, 2016
Per Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated, the hometown connection is the reason behind Noah gravitating to the Knicks.
Word is Noah loves his hometown NY dearly & dreams of playing for NYK. Saw him walking around NY smiling last week. https://t.co/79QiUiLQxv
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) June 30, 2016
According to Tim Bontemps of The Washington Post, Noah’s contract is expected to start at roughly $18 million per season.
Sources: Joakim Noah is expected to reunite with Derrick Rose & return to NYC on a deal starting around $18 million. https://t.co/0W3KSrlPcl
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) June 30, 2016
For what it’s worth, $18 million under a $94 million salary cap equates to roughly $13.4 million under the 2015-16 salary cap of $70 million.
Noah has been tied to the Knicks for weeks on end. New York’s trade for Derrick Rose created an even louder buzz, as many hypothesized that the former All-Star teammates would reunite in orange and blue.
The latest developments imply that it’s not just speculation; Noah to the Knicks is a probable outcome.
Noah was born in New York City, which creates the baseline for interest on his end of the negotiating process. That isn’t enough to guarantee that a deal will get done, but the desire to come home is present in many NBA players.
Per Sam Amick of USA TODAY Sports, the only meeting Noah has scheduled is with his hometown Knicks.
Quick clarification: Noah expected to consider/communicate w/ three teams, but the Knicks meeting is the only one scheduled at this point.
— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) June 30, 2016
As the rumors persist and the sources vary, one can’t help but believe that Noah is genuinely interested in signing with the Knicks.
Signing Noah would be a throwback to the 1990s. He’s a relentless defensive player who talks trash, gets physical, competes until his last breath, and gets on his teammates when they aren’t exerting enough energy defensively.
Noah may not be Charles Oakley, but he has the tools to be the modern equivalent for the Knicks in future seasons.
must read: Pros and cons of pursuing Joakim Noah
If the reports hold true, Joakim Noah will be the next starting center for the New York Knicks.