MARCH 9: The Clippers have officially signed Noah to his 10-day contract, sources tell Jovan Buha of The Athletic (Twitter link). The deal will run through March 18, covering the club’s next five games.
MARCH 6: The Clippers have reached an agreement to sign free agent center Joakim Noah, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN (via Twitter).
According to Wojnarowski, Noah is expected to officially join the team next week. No corresponding roster move will be required, since L.A. has an opening on its 15-man roster.
Noah’s deal with the Clippers will start as a 10-day contract, a source tells Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link). That will give the club a chance to audition Noah and potentially change course if things don’t go well. Presumably, if it’s a good fit, a rest-of-season agreement will follow.
Noah, 35, last played in the NBA for the Grizzlies, appearing in 42 games during the 2018/19 season and averaging 7.1 PPG, 5.7 RPG, and 2.1 APG in 16.5 minutes per contest. The big man reportedly had a workout lined up with the Clippers last September, but was forced to cancel it after suffering an injury.
Noah published an Instagram video in late January showing him training and confirming that he had been recovering from an Achilles injury. He stated at the time that he was looking to make a return to the NBA, with a post-deadline report suggesting that he was “fully healthy” and remained an option for the Clippers. The Nuggets were also said to be considering the veteran free agent.
In Los Angeles, Noah will provide frontcourt depth for a Clippers team that had been on the lookout for a true center with size. Montrezl Harrell and Ivica Zubac have done an admirable job handling the five for L.A. this season, but neither player is necessarily an ideal matchup for the NBA’s standout traditional centers.
The Clippers’ potential path to the Finals may require them to get past big men like Anthony Davis, Nikola Jokic, Rudy Gobert, and/or Steven Adams, so it makes sense that the team wants one more defensive-minded option up front, just in case.
Noah will earn $144,901 on a 10-day contract, with the Clippers carrying a cap charge of $91,557.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Must be nice to sit out most of the year then play for a contender with a chance to win a championship. I bet most players will start to follow b this latest trend.
It’s a 10-day contract, so there’s no guarantee he will be signed for the rest of the season and get a very good shot at winning a ring.
I hope he sticks. When he played for the Bulls, he was an impressive force on the court. He plays hard, with energy and grit. He’s less than what he was, true, but as a role player he may nevertheless provide a real benefit to the Clippers. Good luck, Joakim.
Must be nice? The guy spent the last six months in physical therapy and rehab just so he could sign a 10 day and ride the pine?
Come on.
Must be nice to get $145K for 10 days of “work”.
Must be nice to must be nice.
Musty ice.
Must be nice to have your profession only allow you to make money in it from age 22-35.
Must be nice that your profession allows you to make more money in a couple of years than most people will make in their whole lifetime.
Que?
Solid move. Let him prove he can be an asset.
Smart move for both parties. Not like Clippers can’t use a big man for just in case. Rockets will figure that out watching the Finals on TV.
They have one already. Tyson Chandler.
You do know that Harden is jot gonna win mvp, right?
Haters gonna hate
NOAH performs well within the ARC !!
Would he be playoff eligible if he sticks on the roster?
Yes.
Five years ago yes
Said it before the Lakers signed Dwight, that the Clippers should have signed him, and I could see them ending up with Noah. Noah fits in certain lineups, but I dont know if he does entirely for them. I expect it to work out, but I think he would fit really well on the Heat, and am disappointed they weren’t in on him
Clippers had a good thing, then they added stars, then they just kept adding. Overkill?– at least Noah can add to the sum, as opposed to Marcus M.
It’s a Laker move! Clippers are short.
Think he could be a good fit on the Heat. If he’s still able to play like like last year, he sticks on the Clippers for sure.
He was hurt. He’s in good shape. He can help Clippers. They need another big. Hope he’s in shape
Rockets ma wish they bailed on smallball earlier, to get him first. Clippers may have done this with them in mind; didn’t deal with the 5 earlier to please Harrell in a contract year.
Rookie Mifongele doesn’t seem to even move as well as in college.
His hatered for Bron should help fuel a playoff series