Joakim Noah "Expected" to Sign $18 Million Deal with Knicks; is New York 2nd in the East?

Joakim Noah is going to the Knicks, and riddle me this: How is this team not a contender to be the 2nd best team in the East? According to the Washington Post, Noah is going to sign a multi-year deal starting at $18 million, which sounds about right with the salary cap going through the roof.

Before you start doing backflips in Gotham, I need to remind you of something: Joakim Noah getting $18 million still leaves about $12 million a year to give another free agent.

I discussed this on Speak for Yourself this week: Assuming everyone in the East is healthy, the Knicks should fight for 2nd in the East. There’s too much talent not to be up there.

Yes, Noah is coming off an injury-plagued last two years. Yes, Noah has the ugliest jumper in the league. He’s 31, so his best years are probably behind him (averaged a double-double four years in a 5-year span).

But his role here is easy. Veteran leadership. Rebound. Defend. The scoring will fall upon Derrick Rose, Kristaps Porzingis and Carmelo Anthony. The Knicks should probably spend the rest of that money on a wing defender, preferably someone who can also knock down open 3-pointers. I’d say Kent Bazemore, but the reality of this summer is he’ll probably get more than that.

The Pacers have improved. The Heat could lose Whiteside. Let’s see what happens to DeRozan and Biyombo in Toronto. The Hawks have lost Teague, and may lose Horford, too.

There are two ways to look at the East heading into July 1st: After the Cavs, it’s wide open; if LeBron the Cyborg breaks down, anyone could reach the Finals.