NBA: 15 players looking to shed injury-prone label in 2017-18

13. Joakim Noah

This ship has probably already sailed, but how could we not include a guy who’s being paid $72 million over four years to mostly sit on the bench? Even without Kristaps Porzingis, Willy Hernangomez and Kyle O’Quinn needing minutes at the 5, this would be one of the worst contracts in the NBA simply because Joakim Noah can’t stay on the floor.

Last year, Noah missed 36 games and was a shell of his former self even when he was on the court. The year before that with the Chicago Bulls, he missed 53 games. Aside from an 80-game campaign in 2013-14, Noah has missed 18, 34, 18, 16, 15, 53 and 36 games dating back to the 2009-10 season.

“Injury-prone” doesn’t even come close to describing it, and if Noah can’t return healthy, there’s no way on earth the New York Knicks will ever be able to dump his contract.

It’s probably unrealistic even if he does stay healthy, but the good news is if Noah misses time due to injury (and the remaining 10 games on his suspension), Porzingis and Hernangomez should get ample time at the 5.