The New York Knicks are attempting to part ways with embattled center Joakim Noah. The trade that makes the most sense is right under our noses.
The New York Knicks have an albatross of a contract that’s beginning to weigh on the organization at multiple levels. Handing Joakim Noah a four-year deal worth roughly $72 million never seemed to sit well with those around the NBA, but it’s become a greater distraction than expected.
Not only are the Knicks strapped for cash as they pay Noah roughly $18 million per season, but the frustration is boiling over between the player and the organization.
Reports recently surfaced that Noah had left the Knicks for personal reasons. It’s since been revealed that the reason for Noah’s departure was that he was exiled from the team after a heated exchange between he and head coach Jeff Hornacek that nearly turned physical.
According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the Knicks will not ask Noah to return to the team before the 2018 NBA trade deadline.
"The Knicks and Noah’s representation discussed his status Wednesday and agreed that Noah would stay away from the team until the front office can exhaust any trade possibilities between now and the deadline, league sources said."
Noah’s contract has become a hurdle for the front office to overcome, but the distraction has grown louder due to recent events.
The silver lining with Noah’s contract was that he was good for the locker room and a positive contributor to a defensive-minded culture. Now that the first of those two ships have sailed, trade talks are inevitably heating up.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t appear as though Noah’s contract can be traded—if you overlook the most obvious trade of all, that is.