Exiled Knicks center Joakim Noah will not be with the team Wednesday in Boston, according to coach Jeff Hornacek, and indications are he may not be back with the team until after the Feb. 8 trade deadline.
The Post reported the Knicks have ramped up their trade efforts to see if they can find a taker for Noah’s contract — perhaps in a larger deal. To date, they only have had interest from teams wanting their 2018 first-round pick attached.
The Knicks had believed Noah could rejoin the team Thursday in Milwaukee, but that is now unlikely.
In fact, there’s a growing sense — if they are unable to make a trade — to not bring Noah back at all.
However, the Knicks are reluctant to waive Noah in a stretch provision because he would count against the salary cap for five years when they hope to have maximum room. Noah is in the second year of a four-year, $72 million contract and reportedly is not willing to take a buyout and give up a significant chunk of his earnings to become a free agent.
The rift began Jan. 23 in Oakland when Hornacek yanked Noah in the fourth quarter for starter Enes Kanter after just 4:31 of garbage time. Noah was visibly upset in the locker room after the game, believing he would play more with Kristaps Porzingis and Kyle O’Quinn sidelined. Noah, according to sources, said something to Hornacek as he departed the game.“He was pissed,’’ a source said.
Noah and Hornacek then had a heated argument over the incident at the next day’s practice in Denver, Yahoo Sports reported. Noah left the team Jan. 25 before the Knicks faced the Nuggets, and sources had indicated he would meet the team in Milwaukee on Thursday.
Not having Noah around for the long haul probably doesn’t affect the Knicks much. He has played in just seven games and hasn’t been able to show the leadership he did in Chicago, where he was the league’s 2014 defensive player of the year.
Hornacek has refused to divulge why he pulled Noah for Kanter in the fourth quarter of a blowout. But he briefly reflected on Noah’s anguish.
“We have four centers and the best shot-blocker in the league at the [power-forward] spot [Kristaps Porzingis],’’ Hornacek said. “It’s tough on all the guys. They all want to play more minutes.”
When asked if it’s been tough for Noah to be a leader in his situation, Hornacek said, “I don’t know about that. You see guys on other teams that could provide that. [But] I totally understand guys want to play.”