New York Knicks Stress From Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah

As the season winds down, the New York Knicks continue to endure stress from former Chicago Bulls' stars Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah.

The already turbulent season has somehow found a way to hit a new low for New York Knicks fans as the team continues to play out the year. Last summer's big acquisitions from the Chicago Bulls have become centerpieces to the team's stress, both on and off the court.

Both players expected to be veteran leadership were needed to take the Knicks back to the playoffs, but they've carried over bad habits from Chicago and provided little reassurance for fans.

Derrick Rose has been anything but leadership material in the backcourt as he bounces back and forth with his feelings towards Phil Jackson's triangle offense while trying to keep his value high for free agency this summer.

The former MVP was very honest with reporters in Portland recently about his position on free agency and not being too loyal to the idea of another season in New York even though the Knicks can offer him more money than any other team.

"I'm not even thinking about the money, I've got enough money saved. If I was to stop playing basketball now, I'd be all right. I want to win and I want to be happy and feel at peace with myself wherever I'm at. (Money) is not (number one).

"But like I said, being at the negotiating table you never know. But I'm not going into negotiating with people and asking money as the number one thing I'm asking for. I want to win. … It's not up to me to decide (if I'm a max player). It's up to that team and the front office to decide that. My job is to go out there and try to produce. Once we go to the tables we'll negotiate after that."

"This would be the first time I'd be a free agent. I don't know how that process goes in the off-season. Me and my agent, my brothers, my family, we'll have to talk about it. Of course I want to be here, just being in this environment, playing in New York, being at the Garden every other night, it's a blessing. But once again I really have to talk it over with my agent and my brothers."

Joakim Noah surprised Knicks fans and the rest of the league after news broke early Saturday morning that the former Defensive Player of the Year violated the league substance abuse policy.

The violation results in a 20-game suspension that would carry over the last 10 games of this season and the first 10 of next year. According to league sources, Noah tested positive for an over-the-counter supplement that is banned under the outgoing Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Noah spoke earlier in the month to reporters about hoping to get back on the court before the season was over and prove himself.

"Frustrating to not be able to be out there. It's been frustrating just not to be able to be right for this team this year. So just wanted to go out there and be able to play at a high level, but it's a setback. I just got to bounce back. I'm not happy with the way I've been playing so far this year," he said. "I want to bring more to this team, and the only way you can do that is when you're healthy."

It seems like the Knicks and Noah will have to wait longer as his redeem tour gets derailed for a while and continue to monitor the unpredictable Rose. Knicks fans will continue to stress over a team that is currently committed to "tanking" the rest of the season for better draft positioning.

Fans should probably keep more of their attention on the NCAA tournament, rather than two players who have already worn out their welcome in the Big Apple.