The New York Knicks are finally going to part ways with Carmelo Anthony. On Saturday, the Knicks agreed to trade their franchise star to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for Enes Kanter, Doug McDermott, and a protected 2018 second-round pick. It is unlikely that Anthony is the last veteran that will leave the Big Apple.
The New York Post recently suggested that the Knicks may soon let go of one more experienced player and that is center Joakim Noah. According to the report, Noah's future in New York "looks shakier" because of the impending addition of Kanter.
As of the moment, Noah appears to be a liability for the Knicks. In his first year with them, he played in only 46 games due to a knee problem and a suspension for violating the NBA's anti-drug policy. The ban will carry over to the next season. The misfortunes continued for Noah in April when he got diagnosed with a rotator cuff tear which required surgery. Following the medical procedure, he is expected to be out for 4-6 months.
With Kanter coming to New York, the Knicks can now release Noah because they already have a replacement for him. Kanter is much younger and efficient than Noah, who has a lot of problems he must deal with before he can return to action.
If the Knicks waive Noah, they will owe him money.
The 32-year-old's pact with them, which he signed in July of 2016, is for four years and is worth $72 million. To help their salary cap, they can use the stretch provision if they choose to release him.
Fading glory
Noah was once one of the best centers in the NBA. Now, he is just a big man troubled by injuries and is struggling to have a significant impact on his current team.
Last season with the Knicks, he recorded his second-worst scoring output in a year as he averaged just 5.0 points per game. His rebounding and assists numbers have declined in the past two seasons. Injuries are a big reason why Noah is no longer the dominant center he was back in his days with the Chicago Bulls.
New faces in New York
Once the Knicks' trade with the Thunder becomes official, they will welcome Kanter and McDermott to New York. The two can help the organization as it is set to undergo the rebuilding phase. As mentioned, Kanter will be one of the team's best frontline players. McDermott, on the other hand, is going to improve the team's outside shooting. The 25-year-old will likely be one of the backups of projected starter at the shooting guard position, Tim Hardaway Jr.
