Need a Rim Protector? I Noah Guy

NBA Trade Rumors: It may not make much sense on the surface, but the Boston Celtics should trade for Joakim Noah

Q: If the Knicks have some type of dysfunction within their organization made public via the media, is it because:

• a) Wait, Derrick Rose is healthy?
• b) Phil Jackson is still around?
• c) The Knicks paid Joakim Noah how much money?!
• d) Who’s Courtney Lee?

All jokes aside, you have to feel for the New York Knicks. The team houses one of the most passionate fan bases in all of professional sports in one of the most iconic buildings in the world, and all the fans have to watch is an 19-24 team who recently had their starting PG go AWOL. (If you haven’t heard about that, where have you been? No reader, he’s not in Chicago anymore).

As a result of the Knicks’ most recent debacle, NBA writers have started to ask: should the Knicks hit the panic button? Some have even gone as far to ask if Kristaps Porzingis should be made available. (The answer to that question is to cartoon Batman slap them in the face and question their sanity. Porzingis is a unique talent, and has proven me wrong about his potential).

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While the Knicks should definitely NOT trade Porzingis, they should consider trading one of their big free-agent acquisitions: Mr. Goofy Hairstyle himself – (no reader, Lin plays for the other NY team) – Joakim Noah.

Now before you think I’m crazy for even entertaining the idea of some team, any team wanting to acquire a guy currently averaging 5.6 PPG, 9.0 TRPG, and a 50.8 eFG%; bare with me.

Side note: Noah holds a career 70.8 percent mark from the charity stripe.

Noah is a smart basketball player, and despite the collective groans and whining coming from the Big Apple and its sports fans, he’s still a heck of a passer and a good teammate/locker room presence.

Is roughly $18 million a year excessive for a 31 year-old center for the next four years? Maybe. But there may be a team willing to take a chance on him.

The Boston Celtics

While this hypothetical trade may seem very lopsided towards the Knicks, (and intra-divisor trades are rare), I truly think Boston could come out big winners.

Is Joakim Noah a superstar? No.

Is he even remotely close to DPOY level? No.

Is he a rim protector? Depends on who you ask.

Is he a rim deterrer? Yes.

Being a Celtics fan, I’ve watched my fair share of C’s games this year and they’ve impressed me. Isaiah Thomas gets my vote for starting PG in the All-Star Game (how fun would that be to watch?) Mr. 4th Quarter continues to dazzle night in, and night out. But he’s not the best defensive guard in the league, and if he gets past Avery Bradley or Jae Crowder, (and due to the league’s movement towards having their players stay more towards the 3PT line than the paint), too many uncontested shots are taken and made against the Cs.

They need a deterrer, and I think Noah can be that guy.

Why would the C’s do this? They’re in a tricky situation. IT needs to get paid big bucks, and so will Jaylen Brown down the road and Marcus Smart and Bradley….you get the picture. That’s all gonna happen in the next five years or so, which in the NBA, is not so far away. In other words – if they want to hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy anytime soon, they need to make a move…. but they need to take a risk.

Phil Jackson knows that the Knicks are headed towards disaster, and Melo will want out or Rose will do something crazy and the Knicks will again become the butt of many jokes. Why not get serviceable role players and a few draft picks for an aging center you overpaid for/your fanbase hates?

If Noah doesn’t pan out, the Celtics get rid of two hustling, stretch forwards for an aging center and a chance (or two) at finding a diamond in the rough.

If Noah does, then the Celtics could become dangerous.

Imagine – IT runs the pick and roll with Noah who kicks it out to an open Bradley. Or Crowder. Or Horford. Noah posts up and passes to a cutting IT for an and-one. Or IT takes the entry pass and kicks it out to the open shooter. A smart, passing big goes a long way in the NBA, and does a lot for an offense. (Ask the Warriors about Zaza Pachulia, or how they miss Andrew Bogut more than they thought they would).

Must Read: Analyzing The Six Biggest Surprises From The First Half Of The 2016-17 NBA Season

My point is that if the Celtics take a bite out of the Big Apple, they may have to stomach the fact it may be poisoned; but sometimes you have to take risks to overthrow the King.