5. Familiarity
The signing of an injury-prone player is never easy to stomach, but this isn’t a move comparable to those made by previous regimes. In past seasons, moves were made for players who fit based on talent and talent alone.
In the unique case of Joakim Noah, however, the confidence displayed by the organization is based on far more than just basketball.
The obvious connection is between Noah and Derrick Rose, who were teammates with the Chicago Bulls from 2008 to 2016. A lesser-known friendship exists between Noah and the Knicks’ franchise player: Carmelo Anthony.
When a player has a strong personal relationship with both of the established stars on a roster, they tend to have an easier time finding their place on a new team.
Furthermore, Noah is a New York City native who understands the daily grind. Not everyone is built for New York—and that isn’t a slight on those who aren’t—but Noah was born and raised to handle the pressure.
Familiarity can be invaluable when entering a new situation, and Noah has it with both the stars and the city.
Next: Perfect Pairing