JULY 2, 10:07am: The Thunder have officially re-signed Noel, according to the NBA’s transactions log. Most NBA contracts can’t be finalized during the July moratorium, but one- or two-year minimum-salary deals can, so this strongly suggests that Noel will be returning to Oklahoma City on the veteran’s minimum.
JULY 1, 3:41pm: The Thunder are once again in agreement on a deal for big man Nerlens Noel, reports ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (via Twitter). Noel and the Thunder appeared to reach a deal early in free agency, but a follow-up report indicated that the center wanted to reconsider things.
Meanwhile, Oklahoma City has also agreed to sign free agent shooting guard Alec Burks, a league source tells Royce Young of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
Terms of the two deals aren’t yet known, and neither is the Thunder’s agreement with Mike Muscala, which was reported on Sunday. However, OKC entered the offseason with limited resources at its disposal to upgrade its roster, so it’s probably safe to assume that the team won’t be paying big money for any of its three new rotation pieces.
Noel, who served primarily as Steven Adams‘ backup at center last season, averaged 4.9 PPG, 4.2 RPG, and 1.2 BPG in 77 games (13.7 MPG). Depending on what other moves the Thunder make, he could play a similar role this year, though it’s possible that Muscala’s arrival will eat into his minutes.
As for Burks, the former lottery pick is a career 35.5% three-point shooter, so he may be able to provide Oklahoma City with some much-needed floor spacing. Last season, he appeared in a total of 64 games for the Jazz, Cavaliers, and Kings, averaging 8.8 PPG, 3.7 RPG, and 2.0 APG in 21.5 minutes per contest.
Nice upgrades on a limited budget, esp since they went for good developmentals in the draft, Bazley & Dort. I think Burks, Dort, & Diallo, not to mention Roberson, will all beat out Ferguson at 2G. Muscala will stretch the floor and Noel can really stretch out a hand.
You know Dort is more of a combo guard, right? He’s not a catch and shoot player. He’s a slashing guy
Ferguson is none of the above and got a lot of PT to not do it in.
I doubt they intended Dort to be a PG unless they have to dump Schroeder for relief… okay I see your point.
Willing to bet Noel was waiting to see if the C’s would offer him anything first
Willing to bet Noel was waiting to see if the C’s would offer anything first before singing
Like what? A box of Cracker Jack?
They could of offered a starting job or more playing time maybe not money
Noel only needs 70 more contracts like these to beat out that mavs offer.
So he opted out of 1.99 million to re-sign for 1.88 million. Noel keeps making poor decisions regarding free agency.