REPORT: Knicks plan to buy out Joakim Noah in the next few days

We’ve been hearing about it for weeks (months?) now, but it appears the uneasy relationship between the New York Knicks and Joakim Noah is about to come to an end. Per Marc Berman of The Post:

According to sources, the buyout should finally become official either Monday or Tuesday, and the Knicks’ exact cap savings will depend on how much Noah is leaving on the table.

Noah signed a 4-year, $72 million deal with the Knicks in the summer of 2016, during then-president Phil Jackson’s disastrous plan to revamp the club through free agency. The franchise has changed philosophy under Steve Mills and Scott Perry, opting instead to develop its young talent. That didn’t really align with the veteran Noah’s ideas for his future.

According to Berman, all parties involved seemed ready to move on, even new head coach David Fizdale.

After warring with Hornacek last January, causing his all-expenses-paid banishment, Noah connected this summer with new coach David Fizdale. It was agreed he wouldn’t be a good fit because he sought playing time and wanted to be part of a playoff contender.

Noah was banished from last year’s squad for a fracas with then-coach Jeff Hornacek. The former Defensive Player of the Year played only 40 total minutes over seven games last season.