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New York Knicks: Fallout from Joakim Noah being waived

ByKenneth Teape|
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JANUARY 12: Joakim Noah #13 of the New York Knicks warms up before the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on January 12, 2018 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jordan Johnson/NBAE via Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JANUARY 12: Joakim Noah #13 of the New York Knicks warms up before the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on January 12, 2018 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jordan Johnson/NBAE via Getty Images)

The New York Knicks and Joakim Noah parted ways via the stretch provision. What is the fallout from this decision?

An era came to an end for the New York Knicks following their final preseason game of 2018. After months of dragging it out, the Joakim Noah saga has finally come to a close.

New York and the disgruntled center finally parted ways via the stretch provision. Adrian Wojnarowski and Ian Begley of ESPN shared the news and provided updates on the process.

To the surprise of no one, Noah was not finding traction on an open roster spot around the league. As a result, he was unwilling to agree to a buyout, which he would have given some money back to the organization.

Instead, he will receive the full $37.8 million he was owed and the Knicks will pay it out over the next three years.

This was a move that was a long time coming. Noah had been away from the team since February when he had a falling out Jeff Hornacek.

Hornacek, who was the head coach at the time, got into a heated exchange with Noah during their game against the Golden State Warriors. Noah was under the impression he would get minutes because the Knicks were shorthanded that night due to injuries. Instead, he played only five minutes.

Those heated emotions carried over to the next practice, where Noah and Hornacek had to be separated from each other. It was unknown at the time, but that would be the last time that Noah suited up for the Knicks.

Noah signed a four-year, $72 million deal with the Knicks during the 2016 offseason. It was a move that was criticized right from the start, and rightfully so. That signing is arguably the worst decision that Phil Jackson made during his tenure as team president.

The current regime, led by general manager Scott Perry and president of basketball operations, Steve Mills, did what they could to move Noah. They tried trading him, but found no takers; not even Tom Thibodeau would bite to finish off the transition of the Minnesota Timberwolves into the Minnesota TimberBulls.

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It was a good decision by the front office to stick to their guns and not attach assets to Noah in trade negotiations. If trading Noah meant parting with a future first round pick or young player, such as Frank Ntilikina, it was not worth it.

With the Noah situation now handled, what is the fallout? For starters, the Knicks have opened up some cap space in the future.

According to ESPN, Noah’s full salary of $18.9 million will count toward the cap in 2018-19. His number will be lowered in the following seasons. Since he was waived after Sept. 1, it will cost New York $6.4 million in cap space in 2020 and 2021.

Paying a player that is no longer on your roster isn’t ideal. Instead of being done with Noah following the 2019-20 season, they will be paying him two summers beyond that. This decision complicates the Knicks’ plans in free agency for max contract players.

In the immediate future, there is fallout as well. By waiving Noah, the Knicks opened up a roster spot on the 15-man roster. That guaranteed that Noah Vonleh would make the regular season roster after he was on the roster bubble throughout training camp.

With Noah out of the picture, playing time is now widely available at the center position. It was unlikely that Noah would ever crack the rotation in New York, but now that he is gone, it is no longer a worry.

That is excellent news for Vonleh and rookie Mitchell Robinson. Both should receive minutes behind Enes Kanter. Luke Kornet should also benefit, as he will receive minutes at both center and power forward. Those three players all deserve the minutes as the Knicks are in a clear rebuild and are evaluating who will be a part of their future going forward.

Noah’s exit was long overdue. Getting this done prior to the regular season was a must. While it will cost the organization a little bit in the future, it was the only feasible outcome right now to get Noah off the roster.

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