The Mavericks may have dodged a bullet when Nerlens Noel rejected the team’s four-year, $70MM offer last summer, Tim Cowlishaw of the Dallas Morning News writes. Noel will hit the open market this summer and the type of role and deal he will secure is up in the air.
Noel, still just 23 years old, was limited by injuries this season as he played in just 30 games. Noel averaged 4.4 PPG and 5.6 RPG. After his recent five-game suspension, Noel’s tenure in Dallas is likely over and Cowlishaw writes that while the talent is there, Noel will likely face a challenge to find a consistent role.
“I don’t see him as a starting center on a good team. He’s not enough of a post threat to scare anyone and he certainly can’t drift out to the perimeter and shoot 3’s like so many big men can in today’s league,” the scribe notes. “He’s a decent defender when he’s willing and not a lot beyond that.”
Check out more Mavericks news and notes below:
- Doug McDermott is a more-than-capable three-point shooter, which makes it likely that the Mavericks will try to retain him beyond the current season. Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News speculates that McDermott could search for a deal in the $6MM-$8MM range, which would be a fair deal for both him and the Mavericks.
- Rick Carlisle will complete his 10th season as the Mavericks head coach amid a rebuilding phase. While it may be a frustrating process to coach a losing team, Carlisle thinks the team has made progress, Sefko writes in a separate story. “This is a challenge I have not taken on as a head coach. So from that standpoint, I welcome it,” he said. “And I understand that there’s going to be difficult periods. But we are making progress.”
- With just a few games left, Carlisle gave an indication as to what the team’s rotation will look like, Mavs.com reporter Dwain Price tweets. “We know what the guys that have been playing heavy minutes all year can do. We want to see what (Kyle) Collinsworth and Jalen Jones and (Johnathan) Motley — of course — and these other guys can do. And Aaron Harrison,“ Carlisle said.
- Sefko writes in another piece that the Mavericks are more likely to improve the team via free agency rather than the trade market.
- The Mavericks’ sole focus for the rest of the season is to audition players for next season. Sefko writes that Johnathan Motley has impressed with his play recently and will be looked at as a potential player for next season.
It will be amazing how little the interest will be for Noel, JOkafor, even guys I think are worth it.
Dallas almost doesn’t deserve to get better after offering $70 mil to Noel!– and that outofcontrol executive that Cuban should have known about.
So you would give 70 million to guys like okafor and Noel lmao wow thank god you’re not a GM gosh the world is so sensitive now get over it
What are you even talking about. IDK but I’m pretty sure you misinterpreted. I am NOT a fan of Noel or JOkafor, never was, for either. But all centers will be under-demanded regardless, even those that play the game right. Space-and-pace is the style everyone wants now.
Even though the Warriors and Cavs are both stocking up at the position!
At first I thought mavs not locking up Noel was stupid but man I was wrong on that one. Mavs did dodge a bullet on that one. Hopefully we could either sign or draft a superstar to pair with Barnes and smith