Nerlens Noel had several suitors in free agency, but wanted to return to the Knicks to continue building on the progress from last year, writes Marc Berman of The New York Post.
“There were other opportunities but I want to build on that and get this team to the next level,” Noel said. “Guys like Julius (Randle), RJ (Barrett), Derrick (Rose), we had pieces that can really come together. And I’m really confident we can be better.”
Berman also writes that Noel’s three-year, $27.2MM deal presents the Knicks with questions regarding young center Mitchell Robinson, who was one of the more productive young defensive centers in the league before injuries derailed his 2020/21 season. Robinson is eligible for a contract extension, but there has yet to be any indication whether the two sides will be able to get a deal done.
We have more news from around the Atlantic Division:
- In the same piece, Berman writes that Robinson has been in Las Vegas, working out with Knicks staffers as he continues to progress from his broken foot. In a tweet, Robinson writes: “I look big asf them weights doing me some good and form looking great thanks Knicks staff.”
- Isaac Bonga‘s deal with the Raptors includes a $200K guarantee, tweets Blake Murphy of The Athletic. The deal is presumed to be a training camp try-out, but the guarantee offers hope that Bonga may be able to stick. If so, the versatile wing could find himself in an ideal developmental situation with a team known for helping young players grow.
- The Celtics’ 45th pick, Juhann Begarin, is ready to come over from France, writes Jay King of The Athletic, but team president Brad Stevens has other ideas. “Brad told me I would play in France for one more year,” Begarin said. “I think I’m ready to play with (the Celtics), and I knew summer league was an opportunity to show them I’m ready. I just asked him to play and show I can play with them.”
No one was giving Noel a better offer than he got from the Knicks.
I would rather the C’s bring this kid in instead of seeing G. Williams,C. Edwards, R. Langford or anyone else they’ve drafted the past few yrs besides PP Im glade I was wrong about this kid last yr
The thing that drives me nuts is they kept those 3 bums and let Tremont Waters who’s showed me more than those 3 could ever in just one game I also would’ve rather they kept T. Fall instead of signing Kanter but I get it
The kids 18 yrs old…I agree with Brad on this one… Let him develop his game for another year in someone else’s dime, and save a roster spot for a veteran. And that’s the other consideration, the salary cap. If you bring him over now, his clock starts ticking this year and he’ll count against our cap. Brad is obviously trying to clear space for Max cap space for next year to bring in another star player. The french kid will get his chance in due time.
Neither Tremont or Tako are NBA players. You are right about Williams and Edwards, but also wrong about Langford and admitted wrong about PP. That’s 2 out of 6, or 33%.
Now you say to have the 18-year old Begarin (who went 0-5 from the free throw line last night btw) sit on the end of the bench next year which will cost the Celtics a year of eligibility. I’m not with you, my friend.
Glad he’s back. He is a good defender as he blocks shots. Good team player who fills a role. Never going to be a great offensive player but he does score on put backs and dunks from effort.
Noel signing doesn’t preclude the Knicks from extending Robinson if he shows he’s worth it this year. Both of them have extensive injury histories and neither can be counted on to play more than 25 minutes a game over a full season.