5 biggest free-agent mistakes in New York Knicks history

1.  Joakim Noah

Joakim Noah’s contract with the Knicks was not just the biggest free-agent mistake in their franchise’s history to date, but it was one of the worst signings ever. Signed in 2016, It took the Knicks until 2022 to finally get Joakim Noah off of their salary sheet.

Before assessing Noah’s time with the Knicks, we must also assess his time with the Bulls to get a complete understanding. With the Bulls, Joakim Noah was a two-time All-Star with one All-NBA team appearance, three All-Defensive team seasons, and a Defensive Player of the Year Award under his belt.

During the 2013-2014 season, Noah finished fourth in the MVP voting. He was truly a key cog in what was a special era for the Bulls. At first glance, it may seem like the four-year, $72 million contract he signed doesn’t sound so bad. Unfortunately, the player the Knicks paid for was not the player that they received.

Before signing with the Knicks, Joakim Noah had undergone arthroscopic left knee surgery, which was the beginning of his downfall. He was never able to regain his footing, appearing in just 29 games during his last year as a member of the Bulls.

Once coming to New York, it was truly a disaster from the start. Having played in just 46 of a possible 82 games, Noah averaged 5 points per game while also failing to provide the elite defensive production he once had in Chicago. He was also suspended later on in his Knicks tenure for violating the NBA’s anti-drug policy.

Joakim Noah played just seven games for the Knicks during the 2017-18 season before ultimately being released by the team. It was a disastrous tenure for a player who was expected to help the Knicks take the next step into playoff contention.

For $72 million, Joakim Noah did not give the Knicks their money’s worth.

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