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New York Knicks: Five burning questions following the waiving of Troy Williams

By Maxwell Ogden

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 25: Troy Williams #0 of the New York Knicks dunks against the Washington Wizards during the first half at Capital One Arena on March 25, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 25: Troy Williams #0 of the New York Knicks dunks against the Washington Wizards during the first half at Capital One Arena on March 25, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /
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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – DECEMBER 04: Joakim Noah #13 of the New York Knicks reacts in the second half of a game against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on December 4, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Pacers won 115-97. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – DECEMBER 04: Joakim Noah #13 of the New York Knicks reacts in the second half of a game against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on December 4, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Pacers won 115-97. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

3. What does the future hold for Joakim Noah?

No player will have more of an impact on the future of the New York Knicks than center Joakim Noah. That’s an admittedly bold claim for an individual who appeared in just seven games for the Knicks in 2017-18 before being sent home for the remainder of the season.

Noah’s contract is one of the primary roadblocks between New York and having max-level cap space in 2019, however, which beckons the question: What does the future hold?

Noah, 33, signed a four-year contract worth roughly $72 million during the summer of 2016. It was a backloaded deal, as most are, that will pay the former Defensive Player of the Year $18,530,000 during the 2018-19 season, and $19,295,000 in 2019-20.

With $37.825 million remaining on his contract, Noah could be the difference between the pursuit of a star and the addition of quality role players.

There are other individual who could have a significant financial impact on New York’s future, but Noah is the key. Parting with his salary could require some measure of creativity, as utilizing the stretch provision would currently lead to payments of $7.6 million per season over five years.

It’s unlikely that James Dolan would be willing to part with roughly $30 million for an outright buyout—and honestly, it’s hard to blame him—which makes Noah the biggest question mark.

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