New York Knicks: Fringe player predictions for the 2018-19 Season

Joakim Noah

As one of the remaining players from the Phil Jackson era, Joakim Noah has been able to stick with the team due to his bloated contract; not because of his play. Nothing positive has come out of Noah’s tenure with the Knicks, as he’s fought with former coach Jeff Hornacek, and has been a shadow of his former self on both ends of the floor.

That’s primarily true on defense, as injuries have plagued his stint in New York and prevented him from returning to his Defensive Player of the Year form.

On the offensive end, Noah’s broken shot has caught up to him as he’s left with scoring mainly in the low post. From less than five feet, Noah converted 51.1% of his shots on 190 attempts during the 2016-17 season.

Noah only attempted twelve shots beyond five feet during the 2016-17 campaign, according to NBA.com, which is another example of his questionable fit in the modern era.

It seems that Noah’s playing days are over. It’s time for a rotation of Enes Kanter, Mitchell Robinson, and Luke Kornet, which offers a balance of range on both offense and defense between the three.

It’s unfortunately true, but it’s hard to find a place for Noah in the current rotation without bumping a player who has more long-term value.

Verdict: For now, Joakim Noah remains on the roster. That’s until the New York Knicks can find a way to trade him away for assets that will not affect the long-term rebuild. If all else fails, New York could buy his contract out and clear the roster spot for another player.