Yes, July 1 is still more than five months away. Hell, we haven't even hit the All-Star break yet. But it's never too early to start thinking about free agency. Here in New York City, the Mecca of Basketball (that's right), this summer is crucial for the local teams.

This year projects to have arguably the best NBA free agent class ever with players like Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, Jimmy Butler, Kyrie Irving, and Klay Thompson all -- in one way or another -- able to hit the open market. With hundreds of other players available this offseason and a league salary cap set to rise to $109 million for the 2019-20 season, even in the dead of winter all eyes are on summer '19.

New York's teams are expected to be big players in free agency, with both the Knicks and Nets possessing ample salary cap space and the ambition to exponentially improve. But which NYC franchise has the advantage when it comes to attracting the best talent? Quintessential New York or the "Coolest City in America?" (At least according to GQ, never mind that Brooklyn is actually a borough). Do players want to restore a storied franchise or be the face of a new movement? Midtown steakhouse or Smorgasburg?

Let's take a look at some of the major factors that will either attract or deter free agents and, thus, determine the future of hoops in the Big Apple.

Yes, July 1 is still more than five months away. Hell, we haven't even hit the All-Star break yet. But it's never too early to start thinking about free agency. Here in New York City, the Mecca of Basketball (that's right), this summer is crucial for the local teams.

This year projects to have arguably the best NBA free agent class ever with players like Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, Jimmy Butler, Kyrie Irving, and Klay Thompson all -- in one way or another -- able to hit the open market. With hundreds of other players available this offseason and a league salary cap set to rise to $109 million for the 2019-20 season, even in the dead of winter all eyes are on summer '19.

New York's teams are expected to be big players in free agency, with both the Knicks and Nets possessing ample salary cap space and the ambition to exponentially improve. But which NYC franchise has the advantage when it comes to attracting the best talent? Quintessential New York or the "Coolest City in America?" (At least according to GQ, never mind that Brooklyn is actually a borough). Do players want to restore a storied franchise or be the face of a new movement? Midtown steakhouse or Smorgasburg?

Let's take a look at some of the major factors that will either attract or deter free agents and, thus, determine the future of hoops in the Big Apple.

Nothing went well for Joakim Noah with the Knicks, and on Thursday he finally revealed why.

"I'm too lit to play in New York City," Noah said on The Ringer's "The Chris Vernon Show," referring to his penchant for partying. "I was too lit. Memphis is perfect for me. Chicago was lit, too, but I was younger. You can recover faster."

Well, that settles it then.

Knicks castaway C Joakim Noah finally found a new home in the NBA, and he has a Madison Square Garden reunion on the calendar in the future.

Noah and the Grizzlies agreed to a one-year, veteran-minimum $1.7 million deal on Tuesday, and the Knicks are on the schedule on Feb. 3. New York decided to waive Noah on Oct. 13 after failing to find a suitor via trade. Instead, they will use a stretch provision on the remainder of his four-year, $72 million deal. 

The marriage between these two sides never worked out, and Noah recognized it when he met with the Memphis media following his official signing.

Joakim Noah is officially back. 

The former Knicks center agreed to a one-year deal on the veteran's minimum with the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday, according to Sham Charania of The Athletic. 

It was reported last week that the Grizzlies had "serious interest" in Noah and that the two were expected to meet and come to terms with a deal this week. 

Joakim Noah may have found himself a new home. 

The free agent center, who was released by the Knicks prior to the start of the season, is expected to meet with the Memphis Grizzlies late next week and come to terms on a deal, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic. 

Noah, 33, was reportedly garnering "serious" interest from the Grizzlies earlier this week. 

Joakim Noah may be close to finding a new home after his exile from New York.

The Knicks bust is reportedly in talks with the Memphis Grizzlies about a potential contract, sources told the New York Times.

The Grizzlies have held "extensive discussions" with Noah's camp, per the report, and may come together on a deal in time for the center to suit up against the Knicks Sunday in Memphis.

The Knicks are on the hook for the remaining $37.8 million on Joakim Noah's contract, but GM Scott Perry said the team is in better shape after waiving the big man rather than dealing him.

For months Perry failed to find a trade partner to take the 33-year-old Noah, who would not agree to a buyout with a Knicks after signing a four-year, $72 million contract with the team in 2016. The Knicks are instead using the stretch provision to lessen his annual cap hit, paying him $6.4 million annually through 2022, according to the New York Daily News.

And Perry said the trade market indicated he made the right choice.

The Knicks will waive Joakim Noah before the roster needs to be set on Oct. 15 if they are unable to trade him, reports Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News. 

Before training camp, it was reported that the team was likely to cut ties with Noah, who has not reported for any team activities. 

Noah, who has two years remaining on his four-year, $72.6 million contract, could be waived through the stretch provision, but how much money the Knicks would save will depend on the terms of a potential buyout.

The Knicks could officially finalize a buyout with center Joakim Noah as early as Monday or Tuesday, according to the New York Post's Marc Berman. 

New York has been likely to cut ties with Noah when the team begins training camp, and Berman reports the 33-year-old center will not be at Monday's media day.

Noah, who has two years remaining on his four-year, $72.6 million contract, could be waived through the stretch provision, but how much money the Knicks would save will depend on the terms of the buyout.

The Knicks remain likely to cut ties with C Joakim Noah before training camp begins later this month, reports Shams Charania of The Athletic.

Adrian Wojnarowski and Ian Begley of ESPN had reported on Aug. 8 that the Knicks parting ways with Noah before training camp was likely 

Although Noah has two years remaining on his contract, the Knicks will utilize the waive-and-stretch provision to secure his release if they are unable to trade him, sources told ESPN at the time.

The Knicks plan to move on from C Joakim Noah before training camp begins, reports Adrian Wojnarowski and Ian Begley of ESPN.

Although Noah has two years remaining on his contract, the Knicks will utilize the waive-and-stretch provision to secure his release after Sept. 1 if he cannot be traded, sources told ESPN.

The Knicks had not yet made up their mind about Noah's future with the team when they hired coach David Fizdale in June.

No one knows what the future holds for C Joakim Noah and the Knicks. An educated guess would be the Knicks trying to get his massive contract off their books, as they tried to do last season when he was dismissed from the team after a heated altercation with former head coach Jeff Hornacek. 

But that hasn't stopped the veteran center from prepping for the new year. Noah was seen getting in rebounding work with former Knicks developmental coach Chris Brickley. He worked alongside Magic All-Star Aaron Gordon as well. 

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Jake Brown | Twitter |

Kawhi Leonard is headed north of the border along with Danny Green to play with Kyle Lowry. The the East wide open with LeBron James gone, and the Raptors are going all-in to try to get to the Finals. They did this trade pretty much knowing that Leonard could leave them next summer, and by all accounts it seems like he will.

Chris Haynes is reporting that Leonard has no desire to play in Toronto. If that is indeed the case, it means Leonard could join Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, Jimmy Butler, Kemba Walker and others in the free agent class of 2019. And Leonard being unhappy this season in Toronto puts the possibility of him going to the Knicks next summer very much in play.

With the Knicks potentially being able to bring in two max players, it would not be stunning for Leonard to think about coming to New York. One of the best situations possible for the Knicks is if they can end up signing both Leonard and Irving next summer, giving them a stacked big three of Irving, Leonard, and Kristaps Porzingis. Mix that with Kevin Knox with a year under his belt, Knicks fans would be drooling. It's not bonkers to think it's possible...

Joakim Noah still has hope he will be in a Knicks jersey next season. 

As the 6-foot-11 center walked barefoot through a parking lot in Malibu, California, he admitted he's not sure what the future with the Knicks holds for him at the moment. But he does love head coach David Fizdale.

"I don't know what's gonna happen, but Coach Fiz is cool man," Noah told TMZ.

Joakim Noah still has hope he will be in a Knicks jersey next season. 

As the 6-foot-11 center walked barefoot through a parking lot in Malibu, California, he admitted he's not sure what the future with the Knicks holds for him at the moment. But he does love head coach David Fizdale.

"I don't know what's gonna happen, but Coach Fiz is cool man," Noah told TMZ.

Knicks GM Scott Perry said the team does not yet have a plan regarding center Joakim Noah for the 2018-19 season but will evaluate all options.

"We're going to visit the Joakim situation again as we go through the offseason," Perry said, according to ESPN's Ian Begley. "And you know we won't take any options off the table for that matter."

The 33-year-old Noah appeared in just seven games this season, averaging 1.7 points and two rebounds in the second year of a four-year, $72 million contract.

Noah did not appear in a game since a heated altercation with now former head coach Jeff Hornacek on Jan. 25. New York did not trade him at the deadline, nor did it place him on waivers during the regular season.

With the playoff-eligible waiver deadline on Thursday, the Knicks need to decide what to do with Joakim Noah and Jarrett Jack fast. 

Noah's situation hasn't changed a bit. The veteran center has been away from the Knicks ever since his altercation with head coach Jeff Hornacek, and after not being able to make a trade before the trade deadline, the team has been figuring out how to part ways with him.

For Jack, his situation has come recently after the trade for Emmanuel Mudiay added yet another young point guard to the Knicks' roster. With Frank Ntilikina and Trey Burke in the mix as well, Jack has been the odd man out, having not seen the court in the last three games...

Don't ask Jeff Hornacek anymore questions about Joakim Noah. That is in the past. 

The banished Knicks center continues to stay away from the team, as New York decides what the next step with him is. Hornacek and Noah reportedly got in a "very heated exchange," where some said Hornacek shoved Noah. However, there are conflicting reports on that end. 

Either way, Hornacek is done fielding questions on the matter. The Knicks still need to find a way to get the rest of his contract off the books. But in Hornacek's mind, his time with the Knicks is coming to a close...

Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek said center Joakim Noah is "ready to move on and maybe have an opportunity somewhere else," according to Ian Begley of ESPN.

Joakim Noah's former Bulls teammate -- Timberwolves SG Jimmy Butler -- recently spoke to the center, and said all he wants to do is play. 

Noah was exiled from the Knicks after a heated argument with head coach Jeff Hornacek at practice a few weeks back. The Knicks' front office tried to the two years left on his four-year, $72 million contract off the books via trade before the deadline, but nothing came to fruition. 

So, Noah continues to stay away from the Knicks, but according to Butler, he just wants to see the hardwood again. 

Knicks GM Scott Perry confirmed that no trade has been made for C Joakim Noah, and that there is no plan in place for him to return to the team, per NorthJersey.com's Steve Popper.

The Knicks announced last Friday in a mutual decision that Noah will not return to the team until further notice.

It is not clear if Noah will return at all. The Knicks are reportedly exploring ways to part with him following his heated argument with Hornacek at practice last week, per The Vertical's Shams Charania.

Jake Brown | Twitter | Remember when the Knicks were 17-14? We were all talking about this being a playoff team and how fun it was to watch them play and continue to develop. That seems like ages ago. The are now a season-worst five games back for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. But that all takes a back seat now to the news that Kristaps Porzingis has a torn ACL and will be out for the season.

The worst part of this is how it affects the Knicks' future.

The Knicks weren't making the playoffs this year, but the main issue is that Porzingis will most likely miss at least the first half of next season as well. New York is going to have to potentially play 41 games next season -- and maybe even more -- without the face of their franchise. Essentially, this injury means throwing next season out the window as well...

With the NBA trade deadline looming at 3 p.m. ET on Thursday, the Knicks should be sellers, not buyers.

Following Sunday's loss to the lowly Atlanta Hawks, the Knicks are 23-31, and sit four games behind the Philadelphia 76ers for the No. 8 seed in the East. It looks like the Knicks will miss the playoffs for a fifth straight season dating to their 2013 loss to the Indiana Pacers in the second round.

"I would definitely try to just acquire as many as assets for the future as I could," longtime NBA agent Keith Glass told SNY.tv in reference to the Knicks.

If the Knicks wish to move C Joakim Noah, Celtics PF Al Horford says he would gladly add him to his team. 

The Knicks said Noah won't be joining the team until after the Feb. 8 trade deadline, and that is if he still is under contract. The team was reportedly exploring options to part ways with the center who turns 33 later this month. Horford, who was teammates with Noah during their time at the University of Florida, says Noah still has game to help a contender like the Celtics. 

"I believe so," Horford told The Post's Marc Berman. "I think when Jo is healthy, I will put him on my team any day of the week."

With the NBA trade deadline a few days away, many teams are pondering whether or not they should buy or sell including the Knicks. 

As of now, the Knicks sit 10th in the East at 22-28 on the season. Many teams are in the same spot as they could make trades to give themselves a playoff push, or focus on rebuilding next season. So what should the Knicks do?

Jake Brown | Twitter | It feels like the Knicks should be more than four games out of the playoffs the way their season has slipped away. While they are still alive to make it, it sure doesn't feel like it. The Knicks should 100 percent be sellers with the trade deadline 10 days away. They should be listening to offers for any player outside Kristaps Porzingis, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Enes Kanter. I don't think Frank Ntilikina is untouchable if it means you're going to get a star player in return in a package. I don't think Willy Hernangomez is untouchable, either...

Knicks C Joakim Noah will miss at least the next two games due to personal reasons, the team announced Thursday.

Noah, who practiced on Wednesday in advance of the Knicks' game Thursday night against the Nuggets, reportedly screamed at head coach Jeff Hornacek after being taken out of the game in the fourth quarter on Tuesday night, reports Frank Isola of the NY Daily News.

The Knicks did not provide a specific reason for Noah's upcoming absence.

The Knicks blew a 19-point second-half lead and lost to the New Orleans Pelicans 123-118 in overtime Sunday at Madison Square Garden.

Jake Brown | Twitter | It's halfway through the Knicks season and their unicorn has talked about being very tired. Kristaps Porzingis has missed six games this season, after missing 16 last season, and 10 in his rookie season. That comes out to 32 games out of 205, which is around 15 percent of games missed.

The Knicks star was tremendous at the start of the season, where he looked like a legit MVP candidate. Then injuries and illnesses of different varieties went down, and things changed. Porzingis missed games, he played hurt, he took a lot of hits, and his numbers declined rapidly. There have been nights he hasn't showed up at all (the one-point effort against the Celtics), and there's been nights he has not shot well.

Porzingis is only 22 years old and has plenty of room to grow, but there have been the highs with KP and there have been lows. Jeff Hornacek and the Knicks are going to have to find a way to keep Porzingis fresh if they want to make a run for the playoffs, because he's only going to get more tired as he plays more games. Here's what can be done...

Knicks forwards Kyle O'Quinn and Joakim Noah are both active for Monday's game against the 76ers, while Philadelphia forward Joel Embiid and guard J.J. Redick are also active.

Playing without forward Kristaps Porzingis for the second straight game, the Knicks were blown out against the Charlotte Hornets in a 109-91 loss on Monday at Spectrum Center.

Knicks C Joakim Noah will play a role on the Knicks moving forward and the team does not plan to buy out his contract, GM Scott Perry told the New York Post

Damian Lillard scored 32 points and the Portland Trail Blazers wrapped up a strong five-game road trip with their third straight victory, beating the New York Knicks 103-91 on Monday night.

Pat Connaughton added 17 for the Trail Blazers, who also won at Memphis, Brooklyn and Washington while losing only in Philadelphia. They needed to come from 17 down in the fourth quarter to beat the Wizards last time out but were in charge of this one most of the way.

Kristaps Porzingis returned from a one-game absence and scored 22 points, but the Knicks were without starting center Enes Kanter for a third straight game because of back spasms. They lost all three, falling back to .500 at 10-10.

Damian Lillard scored 32 points and the Portland Trail Blazers wrapped up a strong five-game road trip with their third straight victory, beating the New York Knicks 103-91 on Monday night.

Pat Connaughton added 17 for the Trail Blazers, who also won at Memphis, Brooklyn and Washington while losing only in Philadelphia. They needed to come from 17 down in the fourth quarter to beat the Wizards last time out but were in charge of this one most of the way.

Kristaps Porzingis returned from a one-game absence and scored 22 points, but the Knicks were without starting center Enes Kanter for a third straight game because of back spasms. They lost all three, falling back to .500 at 10-10.

Knicks forwards Joakim Noah and Kristaps Porzingis will be active, while forward Enes Kanter will be inactive for Monday's game against the Portland Trail Blazers, head coach Jeff Hornacek told reporters before the game.

Noah will make his season debut Monday after missing the first 12 games of the season due to a suspension stemming from last season and being a healthy scratch for the Knicks' seven other games.

In the Knicks' lackluster 107-84 loss to the Raptors, Joakim Noah was once again on the bench in street clothes rather than the Knicks' road blue uniforms.

Noah was suspended for the first 12 games of the season but hasn't dressed since becoming eligible to return. The 72-million-dollar-man, often praised for his team-first mentality, has handled the situation with class. 

"I think obviously I understand the situation but I'm going to keep working and be as ready as possible to help in any way I can," Noah said, via Steve Popper of NorthJersey.com. "I feel good. The team is doing really well. I support my guys. Right now it's just about staying on the same routine. I'm working hard and it's hard to do. I'm just trying to take it day by day..."

At anytime between now and September 1 of next year, the Knicks could use the stretch provision and waive Joakim Noah, creating extra cap space the next two years, according to Marc Berman of NY Post.

Noah has been eligible to return from his suspension for two games but has remained inactive amid the Knicks' logjam in the frontcourt that has kept Wily Hernangomez primarily on the bench behind Enes Kanter and Kyle O'Quinn. After this season, Noah has two years and $37.5 million years left on the contract Phil Jackson signed him to just two summers ago. 

According to Berman, the Knicks are in no rush to make that decision. There are no added cap incentives in cutting Noah now rather than after the season. If the Knicks were to use the stretch provision on Noah, the team would free up $11 million in cap space this summer and $12 million next summer. He'd remain on the cap for the Knicks until 2022 though, at $7.5 million per year.

Last season, Noah averaged just five points and 8.8 rebounds per game in a season where he was limited to 46 games due to injuries. 

Jake Brown | Twitter | It has not taken very long for Enes Kanter to become one of the new fan favorites here in New York. At 7-6, I'd say it took 13 games for that to be true, but really it may have just taken one game and a couple of quotes Monday night.

Kanter stood up for his rookie teammate Frank Ntilikina not just in the headlines, but on the court. He showed what a tremendous teammate he is, and what an important voice he is in the locker room. Kanter wasn't going to let LeBron James say or do things to their rookie point guard and let the future Hall of Famer run all over them. Sure, the Knicks blew a 23-point lead and lost the game Monday to the Cavaliers, but Kanter getting in LeBron's face when he was bumping Ntilikina was a big statement.

Then what he said after the game about LeBron was important to send a message and defend his team. Kanter clearly wants to win and he knows what being part of a team is, and being a leader. So far, he looks like the veteran leader on this squad...

With Joakim Noah eligible to return on Monday, the Knicks waived Mindaugas Kuzminskas on Sunday.

Knicks C Joakim Noah has learned a lot from his 20-game PED suspension as he awaits his comeback. 

Noah will return to the team Monday when the Knicks take on the Cavaliers. He has been able to practice with the team, but he has not been able to step on the court at gametime. It has killed him to watch on the bench to start the season, which has taught the veteran center a lesson. 

"I'm not gonna lie, it was very humbling, very tough, to not be able to be with the guys, to have to stay back and watch the games alone, even on the bus. That's been tough," Noah told the Daily News. "It's been a long couple weeks. I'm happy we're playing well. And I'm just happy to be back with the team."

Knicks PG Ramon Sessions, who did not play on Wednesday night, has barely played since starting the first three games of the season -- a role that was then given to Jarrett Jack.

"I've played my whole career, first time in my 11 years this has actually happened," Sessions told the NY Post. "I've been around a while, been around different scenarios. It's still early. It's a long season. In the NBA, a lot of things can happen.''

With Jack starting, rookie Frank Ntilikina has been getting major minutes off the bench. Meanwhile, Ron Baker has been inactive.

Knicks GM Scott Perry has a big decision to make by Monday as C Joakim Noah returns from his 20-game suspension, and a roster spot must be made for him. 

There are two options that Perry can administer: 1) Trading a player to make room for Noah, or 2) waiving a player. It was reported that the Knicks were looking to shop Mindaugas Kuzminskas, who finally got his first game action last night. The Lakers, Cavaliers, and Hawks all had interest in Kuzminskas in the 2016 offseason. 

If Perry can't strike a deal, he will be forced to waive a player to make room for Noah, who is under a four-year, $72 million contract. Ramon Sessions appears to be the top candidate to waive, and Perry made it clear he will address the roster one way or the other. 

The Knicks are reportedly looking to shop SG Kuzminskas Mindaugas to make room for C Joakim Noah, per ESPN's Ian Begley. 

Noah is set to return from his 20-game suspension on Monday when the Knicks host the Cavaliers. With 15 guaranteed contracts on the Knicks' payroll, the best option to make space for Noah would be to trade an asset away instead of waiving a player. 

This is why the Knicks have opened up trade talks on Mindaugas, who has yet to see the floor this season. He is, however, a 28-year-old shooting guard who played valuable minutes in his rookie season last year, and showed some promise. He averaged six points, 1.9 rebounds, and one assist in 15 minutes per game. 

Kristaps Porzingis scored at least 30 points for the fifth time this season to lead the New York Knicks to their third straight win with a 116-110 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Monday at Madison Square Garden.

Porzingis recorded 38 points on 14-of-26 shooting, seven rebounds and three blocks for the Knicks, who hung on in the fourth quarter despite seeing their 22-point halftime lead evaporate in the third.

Kyle O'Quinn scored 15 points and brought down 12 rebounds, while Jarrett Jack had six points and 10 assists. 

GREENBURGH, N.Y. -- Luke Kornet worked out for more than a dozen NBA teams last spring, but when he watched the NBA Draft from his home in Lexington, Ky., 60 picks came and went without Kornet's name being called.

But soon after the draft, he received a call from the Knicks who wanted to offer him the unique opportunity of a two-way contract.

"The Knicks were the only one who offered me the two-way on the night of the draft, so that was a pretty good obvious choice from the beginning," the 7-foot-1 Kornet said Tuesday at Westchester Knicks Media Day.

Jake Brown | Twitter |

The Knicks won't have a huge problem scoring the basketball. It's the other side of the ball that could doom them the entire 2017-18 season. Their defense is bad, and it's difficult to see enough improvement to put them in the winning column more often than not. This team is likely going to give up more than 100 points almost every night.

The Knicks' defense has been worse-than-average in 15 of the last 16 seasons. The only season they were not was the lockout-shortened season in 2011-2012. That was the year Tyson Chandler was the Defensive Player of the Year.

The last time the Knicks defense allowed fewer points per 100 possessions than the league average in a full, 82-game season was in 2000-2001, which was Jeff Van Gundy's last full season as Knicks head coach. The Knicks also ranked last in defensive rebounding percentage last season. They gave up 108 PPG, which was 23rd in the NBA, and they have already given up 113 PPG in their four preseason losses so far...

The Knicks could be without Frank Ntilikina, Kristaps Porzingis, and Joakim Noah in Friday's preseason game against the Wizards.

Joakim Noah won't be able to play in the first 12 games of the regular season, but he's still looking forward to making positives strides when he does return. 

Noah took part in his first preseason game on Friday against the Wizards, collecting two points, five rebound and two assists. Due to his suspension for violating the NBA's substance abuse policy, the forward will not be allowed to play in the regular season until mid-November at the earliest. 

"It's been a long time away from the game," Noah told reporters Friday. "I'm still a work in progress. I'm just excited to get back on the court. I'm dealing with a lot of adversity right now. It's just where the cards fell. It's like being a rookie all over again. I got to prove myself, I got to prove myself every day. It's my challenge. It's the challenge that I put myself in. I just got to keep working every day."

Knicks center Joakim Noah will make his preseason deubt Friday when New York faces the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena, head coach Jeff Hornacek said.

Noah, who has 12 games remaining on his suspension from violating the league's substance abuse policy, is eligible to make is regular-season debut Nov. 13 against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Entering the second year of a four-year, $72 million deal, Noah has been medically cleared after undergoing shoulder surgery in April, but did not suit up for the team's preseason opener on Tuesday against the Brooklyn Nets.

The 32-year-old Noah averaged five points and 8.8 rebounds in 46 games last season.