Report: Wizards plan to make Noah max offer

The Washington Wizards are planning to offer unrestricted free-agent center Joakim Noah a max contract, sources tell the Sporting News' Mitch Lawrence.

The Wizards are expected to part ways with free agent Nene and are in dire need of a rebounding presence, but the idea of a max contract in the vicinity of $115 million for Noah will raise eyebrows in some quarters. The 31-year-old was limited to only 29 games for the Chicago Bulls last season due to shoulder injuries.

Noah's time in Chicago is as good as over with the Bulls' acquisition of Robin Lopez. Only two years removed from winning the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year award, Noah's offensive production has declined substantially since - he shot only 38.3 percent from the floor in 2015-16.

Still, his defensive presence means the New York Knicks, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Milwaukee Bucks are also expected to be interested in the center. Noah grew up in New York and is close with newly acquired Derrick Rose from Chicago; similar history exists with coach Tom Thibodeau in Minnesota. Meanwhile, the Bucks seem refocused on interior defense after a season of Greg Monroe - now reportedly on the trade block - in the middle.