The New York Knicks and center Joakim Noah seem to be nearing the end of their time together.
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According to The Athletic's Shams Charania, the Knicks and Noah are expected to part ways with each other before the start of training camp.
Sources: The Knicks and center Joakim Noah are expected to part ways before training camp; team has continued to work trade calls, although waiving and stretching Noah's contract looms as a route.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 14, 2018
Last month, reports had circulated the Knicks and Noah had planned to part ways and this latest news appears to carry on that case. In early February, the Knicks announced that they and Noah had reached a mutual agreement for Noah to take an indefinite leave of absence from the team. At that point, Noah had not been around the team since Jan. 25.
Since missing that Jan. 25 game, Noah missed the Knicks' next four games as well. According to multiple reports at the time, Noah was away from the team because of a reported disagreement with then-Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek. Hornacek was fired at season's end and replaced by Fizdale.
Noah signed with the Knicks in the summer of 2016 hoping that he could make an impact on New York's defense and front line. Since signing with New York, though, Noah has played in 53 games (starting 46 of them) and has lost time to various injuries. He had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee last February and shoulder surgery last April.
In March of 2017, he was suspended 20 games by the NBA for violating the league's anti-drug policy. That suspension cost him the first 12 games of the 2017-18 season. In 2016-17, Noah averaged five points and 8.8 rebounds per game in 26 minutes per game. Last season, he averaged 1.7 points, 2 rebounds and 5.7 minutes per game in seven games.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
