New York Knicks rumors present an interesting wrinkle in the rebuilding efforts of the franchise. Less than a week after the team decided that it was time to trade Carmelo Anthony, Joakim Noah has remembered how to play basketball. Or maybe it is simply that his body is finally healthy enough that he can make an impact in an NBA game again.
A report by the New York Post quotes Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek, who is expressing his shock about how good Noah has looked during training camp. “Coming off those injuries, literally, I’m shocked of how well he’s played just because I didn’t think he was gonna be ready this early.
I’m extremely happy with how he’s playing. He’s playing the right way.”
Can Noah make a difference for the Knicks?
When Phil Jackson and the New York Knicks signed Joakim Noah to a $72 million contract, the hope was that he could be a presence on defense and help the team finally get back to the NBA Playoffs. Injuries completely derailed those hopes, but Noah still has three years left on his deal and the Knicks received very little interest when the front office revealed he was available. It might turn out to be a good thing that Noah remained on the roster.
It now appears possible that Noah could be an anchor on defense for the Knicks, but he first has to complete a suspension handed down by the NBA.
Noah violated the league’s drug policy and 11 games remaining on his suspension. This means he can’t play for the Knicks until the second week of November, but that could give Jeff Hornacek more time to figure out how to use Enes Kanter in the frontcourt.
New York plans for life without Carmelo Anthony
The New York Knicks started a new chapter in the history of the franchise by trading Anthony to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
In exchange for Anthony, the Knicks received center Enes Kanter, forward Doug McDermott, and a 2018 second-pick that used to belong to the Chicago Bulls. Kanter and McDermott will see a lot of minutes, especially as the coaches try to work younger players into the rotation to see what this roster is capable of in the 2017-18 NBA season.
The current roster for the Knicks isn’t very comparable to the projected starters of the Cleveland Cavaliers, suggesting there are some teams that will be very difficult to play. In a weakened Eastern Conference, though, if some of the new players click right away, it might be possible for the Knicks to make it back to the NBA Playoffs. If the team finds some early success, fans might be pleased to see New York Knicks rumors about acquiring players to add depth for a postseason run.
