Even though they’ve assembled a collection of former Bulls, the Timberwolves don’t plan to pursue Joakim Noah if he becomes a free agent, tweets Marc Stein of The New York Times.
Minnesota signed ex-Laker Luol Deng this week, adding him to Jimmy Butler, Derrick Rose and Taj Gibson as players who were with Chicago under current Wolves coach/executive Tom Thibodeau.
The Knicks are reportedly planning to use the stretch provision to unload Noah if they can’t work out a trade or buyout. With this year’s $18.53MM salary already locked in, New York can turn the $19.295MM it owes Noah for the 2019/20 season into three payments of roughly $6.4MM a year. That would open about $12.9MM in cap room for next summer when the Knicks hope to make a splash on the free agent market.
Noah has been a major disappointment since coming to New York on a four-year, $72MM contract in 2016. Suspensions, injuries and coaching decisions limited him to seven games last season, and he never rejoined the team after an altercation in practice with former coach Jeff Hornacek in January.
While a reunion with Thibodeau may seem like the logical next step for Noah, there’s no guarantee he would have more playing time in Minnesota than he did in New York. Karl-Anthony Towns is entrenched as the Wolves’ starting center with Gorgui Dieng in place as the backup.
So much for the Timber-Bulls lineup
I don’t believe it. If he becomes available, they’ll pick him up. Especially if/when they trade Gorgui Dieng
Whaaaaaaa you mean the bulls aren’t interested in an overpriced former bull? What has changed.
Yeah, the Wolves try to stay away from former Bulls.
Still don’t get why Noah got removed from the team just for been the victim of Hornacek anger issues, he got punched & attack by the HC & he gets punished for it. Funny business, huh. When poor Latrell did that the other way around he got expelled for a year. Why didn’t Hornacek get expelled? Just cannot understand it.
Lol what? What fantasy world are you living in?
Can’t wait to get an identical article for 28 other teams.
That’s not sarcasm I really can’t wait.