A free agent last summer, center Pau Gasol waited for a call from Knicks president Phil Jackson. Lakers president Jeanie Buss once told confidants Jackson considered Gasol his favorite Laker to coach. Obsessed with the younger, more defense-oriented Joakim Noah, Jackson had tunnel vision when it came to filling his center role. “No, no contact,” Gasol said before he looked as smooth as ever in scorching the Knicks for 19 points Saturday in San Antonio. “I was surprised, too.” Gasol became a key offseason piece for the 56-16 Spurs, signing a two-year, $30 million deal. The 36-year-old now plays for a championship contender. The 32-year-old Noah, inked to a now-tragic four-year, $72 million package, was far from San Antonio on Saturday. He is rehabbing from knee surgery amid news of a 20-game suspension for violating the NBA’s anti-drug policy for taking a supplement which contained anabolic steroids. - See more at: http://nypost.com/2017/03/26/phils-joakim-noah-love-blinded-him-from-the-guide-knicks-need/
