Sir Charles in Charge
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The 1st annual Jimmy Awards: 10 worst contracts in the NBA

By Jonathan Macri

NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 12: Joakim Noah #13 of the New York Knicks celebrates during a time out in the first quarter against the Chicago Bulls at Madison Square Garden on January 12, 2017 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 Elsa/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 12: Joakim Noah #13 of the New York Knicks celebrates during a time out in the first quarter against the Chicago Bulls at Madison Square Garden on January 12, 2017 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 Elsa/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – JANUARY 02: Joakim Noah #13 of the New York Knicks walks off the court after the game against the Orlando Magic at Madison Square Garden on January 2, 2017 in New York City.The Orlando Magic defeated the New York Knicks 115-103. 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 Elsa/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – JANUARY 02: Joakim Noah #13 of the New York Knicks walks off the court after the game against the Orlando Magic at Madison Square Garden on January 2, 2017 in New York City.The Orlando Magic defeated the New York Knicks 115-103. 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 Elsa/Getty Images) /

3. Joakim Noah – three-years, $55.5 million remaining

You want to know the craziest thing about Noah last season? He wasn’t even the biggest reason the Knicks stunk. Not even close.

His -1.06 RPM (via ESPN) was bad , but not nearly as damaging as Derrick Rose’s -2.25, and not all that much worse than Carmelo Anthony’s .12. If fans swallowed their frustration over his mere presence on the court, they saw a guy who disrupted spacing and clanked freebies, but other than that was a functional NBA player on both ends.

Defense has always been Noah’s calling card, and it continued to be in 2016-17. By BasketballReference.com’s defensive box plus minus statistic, Noah was one of New York’s only plus defenders, grading out as second to Kyle O’Quinn (who, with Chris Andersen’s retirement, is the owner of what is now clearly the NBA’s second best beard).

Even his offensive game – which if you watch enough has the same affect as looking directly into the sun – wasn’t terrible. His .493 FG% was the highest its been in half a decade, and topped both of his All Star seasons with the Bulls.

For a player who lives strictly in the paint, sub-50% shooting is bad, but that was never Noah’s game. As a 20-minute a night guy who fires up the troops, pisses off someone on D and crashes the boards, you could do worse.

You just don’t pay him $18 million a year.

You definitely don’t pay him $18 million a year in New York, where despite perpetual dysfunction, someone will always want to come and play. And you absolutely, positively do not pay him $18 million a year when your best player is at his best at the position Noah plays.

Thanks again Phil.

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