Free-agent center Joakim Noah and New York Knicks president Phil Jackson will meet after midnight on July 1, with the two sides intensely focused on working out an agreement, league sources told The Vertical.
There’s belief on both sides that a deal could come swift in free agency, sources said.
In New York, Noah would return to his hometown franchise and be surrounded by a core of former teammate Derrick Rose, Carmelo Anthony and Kristaps Porzingis. Noah and Rose remain close, and have discussed at length a reunion in New York, sources said. Other teams are still vying to schedule a meeting with Noah, sources said.
Noah experienced multiple shoulder injuries last season and ultimately had season-ending surgery on his left shoulder in January. He made progress in the months to come, steadily reaching benchmarks in his rehab. Around Noah, there is exhilaration toward joining the Knicks, and it has stemmed from his offseason training and his goal to succeed as part of a talented roster.
Noah, 31, appeared in 29 games last season, averaging 4.3 points, 8.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists and one block in 21.9 minutes a night. Under new coach Fred Hoiberg, Noah could never find traction in an established role, and his confidence wavered, which attributed to his worst free-throw-shooting season by a wide margin (48.9 percent).
For his career, Noah has been one of the NBA’s better defending big men, with the ability to guard perimeter players in screen switches. In 2013-14, Noah won the Defensive Player of the Year award while averaging 12.6 points, 11.3 rebounds and 5.4 assists.