Reports: Knicks Talking Deals With Joakim Noah, Eric Gordon
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The Knicks are reportedly in contract talks with free agent center Joakim Noah and shooting guard Eric Gordon.
Starting Friday, free agents can verbally commit to agreements but can't officially sign any contracts until July 7.
According to Yahoo's The Vertical, the Knicks are working to finalize a deal with Noah in the range of four years, $70 million.
Noah is reportedly meeting Friday morning with Knicks president Phil Jackson in Orlando, Fla.
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Noah, 31, is intrigued by the idea of playing for his hometown Knicks, ESPN reported. The son of former French tennis player Yannick Noah and former Miss Sweden Cecilia Rodhe, Noah was born in New York City and played at the United Nations International School in Manhattan and Poly Prep in Brooklyn.
In eight seasons with the Chicago Bulls, Noah was a two-time All-Star and was voted the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year after the 2013-14 season. However, he is coming off an injury-riddled season in which he suffered two significant shoulder injuries that limited him to 29 games, including only two starts. He averaged just 4.3 points and 8.8 rebounds.
If he does sign with the Knicks, Noah would be reunited with friend and former Bulls teammate Derrick Rose, who made his feelings about Noah clear at his introductory news conference last week.
"Oh, I want him," Rose said. "He knows that. I think his family knows that. I think everybody knows that."
The Knicks are in the market for a starting center after sending Robin Lopez -- along with point guards Jose Calderon and Jerian Grant -- to Chicago in last week's trade to acquire Rose.
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With about $30 million in salary cap space, signing Noah would effectively eliminate New York from the Kevin Durant sweepstakes.
Meanwhile, Yahoo's Adrian Wojnarowski reported early Friday morning that the Knicks and Gordon are discussing the parameters of a possible contract.
Gordon is an eight-year veteran, playing the last five seasons with New Orleans. Last year, he averaged 15.2 points per game.
He, too, has been plagued injuries, not having played in more than 64 games since his rookie year, including just 45 last season.
