New York Knicks: Holiday wishlist for the 2017-18 NBA season
By Brad Wier
Do Something (Anything About Joakim Noah
It’s not a wishlist until we address the elephant in the room: Joakim Noah. Oh lord, where do we go from here? Noah is the second-highest paid player on the team and has played a total of 21 minutes this season.
$17.76 million per season. 21 Minutes. Total.
Noah has one of the worst contracts in the league, and the Knicks are stuck with him until after the 2020-21 season. No team is willing to accept him in a trade unless the Knicks give up a first-round draft pick—or two.
The team needs to do something positive with Noah—fast. Playing him hasn’t shown much promise. His injuries and age have made him a shell of the Defensive Player of the Year he was in 2013-14.
The Knicks could use the stretch provision on him, but that would only elongate his contract. They can’t terminate his contract unless he decides to retire. With over $55 million left on his contract, he won’t retire.
A lack of playing time could get to Noah if he thinks he still has something left in the tank. It’s possible the Knicks could try to trade him, but there haven’t been any trade partners just yet.
The first couple of months have been a pleasant surprise for the New York Knicks. With a 17-15 record, there’s still room for improvement.
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Let’s all hope for a successful, injury-free rest of the season. Have a great holiday season!