Joakim Noah says he wants to stay with Knicks: 'I love New York'

Joakim Noah's future with the New York Knicks remains unclear, but the veteran center wants to remain with the club.

"I love New York," Noah said when asked in a brief interview with TMZ Sports if he wants to stay with the Knicks.

"For sure," he added when asked again.

Noah and the Knicks mutually agreed that he'd separate from the team last February after he got into an argument during practice with then-coach Jeff Hornacek. The two had to be separated during the argument.

New York subsequently tried to trade Noah, who has two years remaining on a four-year $72 million contract, but found no suitable options.

Noah's future with the Knicks is unclear at the point. General manager Scott Perry has said several times that all options are on the table, including the possibility that Noah returns to the roster for the 2018-19 season, is traded or waived via the stretch provision.

New Knicks coach David Fizdale said in May that he may meet with Noah during the offseason.

When asked during TMZ interview -- which was published Monday -- if he'd worked out with Fizdale, Noah said, "I don't know what's going to happen. But coach Fiz is cool, man."

A league source with knowledge of the dynamic between the Knicks and Noah said earlier this month that "nothing's changed" regarding the club's level of communication with Noah.

If the Knicks waived Noah via the stretch provision after Sept. 1, the remaining season ($19.2 million) on his contract would be stretched over three seasons. That would potentially create an additional $12 million in cap space for the 2019 offseason, when the Knicks hope to be in position to offer a max contract to a top player on the market.

Noah, a two-time All-Star for the Chicago Bulls, hasn't made a significant impact for the Knicks since signing a contract under former team president Phil Jackson in the 2016 offseason.

He played in 46 games in the 2016-17 season, losing time to various injuries and an arthroscopic surgery on his left knee. In February 2017, the NBA suspended Noah 20 games for taking a banned substance -- a ban that cost him the first 12 games of this season.

Noah averaged 5 points and 8.8 rebounds in 26 minutes per game in 2016-17. Last season, he averaged 1.7 points, 2 rebounds and 5.7 minutes in seven games before the team and the center mutually agreed to part.