Jax waives Jennings, loses Noah to surgery
Brandon Jennings is gone for good, Joakim Noah might be done for the season and the Knicks’ focus on playing the young guys is about to go into full swing.
Phil Jackson finally sprung into action after being shut out at the trade deadline. The Knicks waived Jennings, the disgruntled veteran backup point guard, finally signed their summer-league/DLeague sensation Chasson Randle while Noah’s disastrous first year in New York may have come to an end.
According to a source, Randle is signed for the rest of the season with a partial guarantee for next year. The Jennings move also has opened the door for undrafted rookie Ron Baker to assume backup point-guard duties.
Noah’s first season as a Knick is all but over, leaving rookie Willy Hernangomez with the starting center’s job, possibly for years.
After feeling a pain in his left knee three days ago, an MRI exam revealed a “loose body” existed. Rather than wait, Noah, who had missed the previous seven games with a hamstring strain, underwent arthroscopic surgery and will be reevaluated in several weeks. If the Knicks are out the playoff race, the $72 million man is done too, finishing the season having played in just 46 games.
Sources denied a report Jennings had asked to be traded to a playoff contender, but the club “knew he was unhappy with his role.” Another source told The Post the Knicks felt he “was no longer a fit” and sensed if his playing time reduced to play the young guys, he would have created a problem.
“Brandon wanted to play more minutes here,’’ coach Jeff Hornacek said before the Knicks’ 92-91 loss to the Raptors Monday. “With Derrick here, it made it awfully tough.”
Hornacek indicated Baker is a stronger defender than Jennings. The coach admitted Jennings pushed the pace well, but now that the club is emphasizing more triangle, the decision to go Jennings-free became a no-brainer. Jennings will be a free agent and the Knicks weren’t interested in re-signing him. They didn’t receive any sensible offers at the deadline for him.
“It will open up more minutes for Ron,’’ Hornacek said. “Chasson, we really liked in training camp. We were surprised nobody picked him up earlier. He’s a young player we can develop, knows the system and has a real good feel for the game.’’
In January, Randle signed two 10-day contracts with the Sixers, but was cut before the trade deadline as Philadelphia remade its roster with a series of trades.
“Organizations try to do best for themselves and the players,’’ Hornacek said. “You see a guy not happy or wants to play more minutes, a veteran guy like Brandon, and we had Ron and Chasson, we saw an opportunity help Brandon out and help us.’’
Jennings could sign with the Wizards, in third place in the East, or Charlotte. Meanwhile, Derrick Rose, nearly traded for Ricky Rubio at the deadline, will stay. The Knicks are considering keeping a cap hold on Rose in case they can benefit by using Rose in a sign-and-trade in July to gain an asset.