The #New York Knicks are willing to trade Kristaps Porzingis to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Kyrie Irving, but the deal must include the three-year, $55 million remaining on Joakim Noah’s contract. According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, Noah’s contract has been holding the discussions between the Cavs and the Knicks. The Cavaliers have trained their sights on Porzingis as their future cornerstone in case LeBron James leaves the team in 2018. As of now, Wojnarowski said the conversation is a non-starter for the Knicks, based on his discussions with league sources.
The Knicks are one of Irving’s four preferred destinations, aside from the San Antonio Spurs, Miami Heat and the Minnesota Timberwolves. Irving asked for a trade to become the No. 1 option for a team and leave the enormous shadow of LeBron James. The Cavaliers, for their part, are eyeing a win-now veteran, a blue-chip young player, and a top draft pick. The Knicks signed Noah to a four-year, $72-million deal last summer as their primary big man but he suffered a rotator cuff injury that limited him to 46 games last season. He averaged 5.0 points and 8.8 boards in 22.1 minutes of action per game.
Noah suspended 20 games for violating drug policy
In addition, the NBA slapped a 20-game suspension on Noah for violating the league's anti-drug policy.
He will sit the first eight games of the 2017-18 season due to the ban. He started serving his suspension on Feb. 4 after he was cleared by the NBA's independent medical expert late last month. According to reports, Noah said he took the supplement -- selective androgen receptor modulator LGD-4033 – while recovering from an injury.
The supplement is banned under the league’s collective bargaining agreement.
Knicks plan on building around Porzingis
This latest development came days after Porzingis expressed his commitment to the Knicks after a turbulent season under team president Phil Jackson, who was fired in the offseason. After the season ended, Porzingis skipped the team’s exit interview and traveled to Latvia for an extended vacation.
When he returned, the team’s new front office composed of president Steve Mills and general manager Scott Perry cleared the air with Porzingis. The Knicks also exercised their team option in the Porzingis’ contract for the 2018-19 NBA season. The Latvian big man will earn $4.5 million in the coming season and $5.7 million in 2018-19. Porzingis averaged 18.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks in 66 games last season.
