Even as Phil Jackson’s successes are lighting up Madison Square Garden in Kristaps Porzingis and Frank Ntilikina, one of his most questionable moves remains on the Knicks’ 2017-18 roster with little fanfare: Joakim Noah. New York’s ineffective and injured center is fresh off a 20-game suspension, and was available for the Knicks/Cavaliers matchup on Monday night, although he did not suit up. In order to accommodate Noah on the bench, the New York front office was forced to cut a player, and unfortunately fan favorite Mindaugas Kuzminskas was on the chopping block.
Although an “old rookie” at 27-years old during his rookie campaign last season, Kuzminskas showed flashes of potential off the bench when he was called to spell Carmelo Anthony.