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New York Knicks: How cutting Joakim Noah helps Knicks for future

By Matthew Travis

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 29: Joakim Noah #13 of the New York Knicks looks on against the Memphis Grizzlies during the first half at Madison Square Garden on October 29, 2016 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 29: Joakim Noah #13 of the New York Knicks looks on against the Memphis Grizzlies during the first half at Madison Square Garden on October 29, 2016 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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On Thursday the New York Knicks announced that they would be parting ways with Center, Joakim Noah. How does cutting Noah impact the Knicks in the future?

The New York Knicks and center Joakim Noah have parted ways, ultimately clearing nearly $38 million in cap space over the next two seasons. Without Noah the Knicks centers are now Enes Kanter (contract expires after 2018-19), Mitchell Robinson and Luke Kornet.

Kanter will presumably be the starter as we enter the 2018-19 season unless of course the Knicks decide to build up their young guys. Robinson is entering his rookie season after not playing in college in an effort to prepare for the draft, while Kornet enters his second season.

With that being said the Knicks are somewhat weak at the center position in 2018-19 and beyond. They have arguably the worst defensive center in the league who also cannot shoot, a rookie, and a glorified rookie who played in only 20 games in 2017-18.

This means that the Knicks are hoping Mitchell Robinson pans out and they can use their money to build a supporting cast around Kristaps Porzingis.

The 2019 list of free agents has quite a few big names who have been linked to New York Knicks rumors for quite some time now. A few of the 2019 free agents include:

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The Knicks could use some help at the guard positions as their starting guards at the moment include Trey Burke and Tim Hardaway jr. With the Knicks now parting ways with Noah this means they just took over $19 million off their payroll for the 2019-20 season.

This means they will have more money to offer some of these top free agents in an effort to be competitive once again. Two players who look rather promising for the Knickerbockers are Kyrie Irving and Jimmy Butler.

Butler and Irving have been linked to many rumors lately saying they would like to team up on an Eastern Conference team when the two are free agents after the 2018-19 season. With Irving growing up in New York and listing the Knicks as one of the teams he wanted to be traded to last season, the Knicks look like a promising destination.

With the Knicks now cutting Joakim Noah, that dream scenario now looks more possible than ever. The Knicks will have an abundance of cap space going into the 2019 offseason for two main reasons:

  1. They freed up over $19 million for the 2019-20 season by cutting Noah.
  2. Enes Kanter, Mario Hezonja, Kristaps Porzingis, Ron Baker, Emmanuel Mudiay, Trey Burke, Luke Kornet and Noah Vonleh could all be free agents after this season.

New York Knicks: Realistic goals for the 2018-19 season. dark. Next

With the exception of Kristaps Porzingis, Trey Burke, maybe Emmanuel Mudiay and potentially Enes Kanter, the Knicks might not bring these players. With that being said the Knicks will have a plethora of cash to throw at big names such as Kyrie Irving and Jimmy Butler.

So Knicks fans get ready because this Joakim Noah move may just be the beginning of the Knicks getting back to competitive basketball.

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