REPORT: Timberwolves have interest in Joakim Noah if he is waived by Knicks

September 1 was a critical date for those interested in Joakim Noah’s fate as a member of the New York Knicks. Now that it has passed, the front office can waive the veteran center and stretch his cap hit over the next three seasons.

But that has not yet come to pass. Instead, it was Noah’s former teammate, Luol Deng, was waived and stretched by the Lakers on September 1. That doesn’t mean that Noah is staying with the Knicks, however — the team could be working on a buyout. But Deng’s release has reignited talk that the Minnesota Timberwolves could be waiting to scoop up Deng and eventually Noah. Per The Athletic’s Jon Krawczynski.

The Wolves are run by former Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau, who has already added ex-Bulls Taj Gibson, Jimmy Butler and Derrick Rose to Minnesota’s roster. The idea of adding Deng and Noah to that mix has been the subject of many an online joke, but a Minnesota writer confirms that the Bulls Wolves have interest. This might help the Knicks, if indeed they are trying to negotiate a buyout with the center. Noah has barely played in two years, so the market for his services doesn’t figure to be robust, but he could have a roster spot waiting for him on a 2017 playoff club with a roster loaded with his old Chicago buddies.

Of course, the Knicks could render all this moot by simply acting responsibly and waiting to dump Noah. At worst, they could waive him prior to the start of 2019 free agency, if they are that desperate to open up cap space. Waiving Noah now does nothing other than open up a roster spot.

Just for shits and giggles, let’s end with Noah shooting jumpers. Happy Labor Day!