NOAH WHERE TO GO
Joakim returns from ban Monday with place in rotation uncertain
Joakim Noah doesn’t know how much he will play (or even if he will) because of the Knicks’ center glut, but he’s delighted his drug suspension is about to end so he can “help in any way.”
Noah will miss the final contest of his 20-game suspension Saturday, when the Knicks (6-5) host the Kings (3-8), then will be back on the 15-man roster for a Monday home game against the Cavaliers.
“All I can do is just be as ready as possible,” said Noah, whose suspension for the performanceenhancing drug androgen started with eight games remaining last season when he was injured. “I feel like I’ve put myself in that position, grinding hard. Whatever my role is, I’ll accept it. It’s tough, you know? We have a lot of very good players at [my] position.”
With Noah, the Knicks have four centers vying for playing time — unless they trade one of them by Monday. The Knicks have gauged backup Kyle O’Quinn’s trade value across the first 11 games, and it has in- creased because of his gritty play as Enes Kanter’s backup. Since the Bucks traded center Greg Monroe for Eric Bledsoe, it has been reported they are looking for another reserve center.
“I’m here every day in practice, so I know what’s going on,” Noah said. “I’m definitely a work in progress. It’s been very humbling.”
Coach Jeff Hornacek praised Noah, a former Defensive Player of the Year, during the preseason for looking a lot more spry than in his first disastrous season with the Knicks, when he played 46 games. But he knows something has to shake up with the roster and indicated he would like to roll with Noah eventually.
The Knicks have to create one spot on the roster for Noah, and beyond the centers, Ramon Sessions, Mindaugas Kuzminskas and Michael Beasley also are not safe. The center position, though, is so crowded Willy Hernangomez has been mostly out of the rotation.
“We’re going to have to figure that out when we can, with Scott [Perry] trying to figure out what our moves are,” Hornacek said. “If all four centers are there, it’s going to be a situation where we’re going to have to take a look at whether we can keep all four of them out there. It’s already tough enough trying to get Willy minutes. But Jo, he’s been working hard in practice. He’s been doing a great job. So we’ll try to get him worked in at some point.”
Noah, who battled various injuries last season and eventually needed rotator-cuff surgery, has been allowed to practice, compete at morning shootarounds and travel with the club. He is not allowed to be in the arena two hours before tip-off. He sees a renewed tenacity in the Knicks’ surprisingly solid 6-5 start, gleaned from watching on TV.
“I think they’re playing hard,” said Noah, whose four-year, $72 million contract is virtually unmovable. “I think this is a team that the people in New York should be excited about. The future is definitely really bright. This is a team that’s gonna work hard every night. Definitely have a long way to go, but it’s an exciting team to be around.”
The nights of road games, he has been in his hotel watching the game on television alone — the toughest part.
“I’m not gonna lie, it was very humbling, very tough, to not be able to be with the guys, to have to stay back and watch the games alone, even on the bus,” Noah said. “That’s been tough.”
Noah has attempted to bring leadership and has talked with Hernangomez for support. Noah said he had it tough early in his career with DNPs. But for now, Noah, a Hell’s Kitchen product, still thinks he can contribute on the court.
“Right now, I still feel like I have a great opportunity to be able to play at home,” Noah said. “That’s something that I’m not going to take for granted. And it was taken away from me because of a bad decision.”