MARCH 6, 9:32am: Noel’s signing is official, the Nets announced (via Twitter).
MARCH 4, 9:38am: Noel is expected to receive a 10-day contract from the Nets, Wojnarowski writes in his full story on the agreement.
Brooklyn may wait until Sunday to officially complete the signing to ensure that Noel is available for the team’s next six games instead of five. Noel would earn $151,821 on a 10-day deal, with $105,522 counting against the Nets’ cap.
MARCH 4, 7:18am: Veteran center Nerlens Noel has reached an agreement to sign with the Nets, agent George Langberg tells ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link).
Brooklyn has had an open spot on its 15-man roster since the trade deadline, so no corresponding move will be needed to create an opening for Noel, who became a free agent on Wednesday after clearing waivers. He finalized a buyout agreement with the Pistons earlier in the week.
The sixth overall pick in the 2013 draft, Noel has established a reputation as a talented, versatile defender with a limited offensive game.
After beginning his career with the Sixers, Mavericks, and Thunder, Noel thrived in New York in 2020/21, averaging 6.4 rebounds and 2.2 blocks in just 24.2 minutes per game for the league’s fourth-best defense. That performance helped earn him a three-year, $28MM contract from the Knicks, but he was slowed by injuries in ’21/22, appearing in just 25 games.
The Knicks sent Noel to Detroit in a salary-dump trade last offseason and he played sparingly for his new team as the Pistons evaluated younger players. Before agreeing to a buyout, the 28-year-old only appeared in 14 contests, averaging 2.3 PPG and 2.6 RPG in 10.9 MPG.
The Nets have been on the lookout for months for a reliable frontcourt player to back up starting center Nic Claxton — Noel is as good as an option as they’ll find on the buyout market.
Following last month’s trades of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, Brooklyn no longer looks like a team with championship potential, but the club remains firmly in the playoff race and still appears invested in upgrading this year’s roster. The Nets’ 35-28 record currently gives them a 2.5-game lead over Atlanta for the sixth seed in the East.
Brooklyn still has a portion of its mid-level exception available, but a rest-of-season, minimum-salary contract is probably the likeliest outcome for Noel. If he were to officially sign a minimum deal on Saturday, the big man would earn about $562K, while the Nets would take on a cap hit of approximately $390K.
The move makes sense especially since it’s unclear when Ben Simmons is coming back.
Seems like a solid pickup to swap time with Claxton. Nets looked like a great team against the Celtics.
He would have been a fit for Miami.
Nets actually might do a little something on the playoffs. On paper, they got one of the best defenses in the league
Sure if you completely ignore their results since the deadline
Well, if you consider their play from the mid-2nd quarter on last night as turning the corner and gelling, it could be. It turns out this signing is likely to be a 10-day contract, so they could be hedging their bets on a swift return of Ben Simmons. They could decide to keep Noel regardless.
Well that’s why I say on paper. They got all the talent. They just need time to create a cohesive team defense.
Those “You heard it here first” comments you made about Noel and Dragic to Miami were cute.
Haha, obviously those comments were significant enough for you to keep it stored in your memory bank. You must have been dreaming about this day! Hahaha!
And they say rent keeps increasing. Haha, it’s free your head!!!
Looks like I touched a nerve, thanks for that little freakout.
Yes, your idiocy was memorable.
“haha it’s free your head”
Another priceless gem.
Oh yea, hang it on your wall and keep praising me like the god that I am!!!
“freakout” you say? Embellish much? Haha, man y’all trying hard.
I am not a Mavs fan but it still makes me laugh that this clown turned down 70 million from the Mavs and asked for the max. You can blame the agent if you want but Dallas offered 17 mil and his next contact was for 4.5 mil. Yes more money than I will see but glad to see teams not just catering to someone because he is tall and can play back up level basketball.
Amen
One day you’ll all be beggin to play in Sacramento
Noel is gonna be out of the NBA if the Nets are the only team giving him a very slim shot at their back-up, the back-up role.
This makes no sense, Noel must be washed to end up with the Nets because there were much better fits on other contenders.
What contender was offering 18-20 MPG?
I’ll wait.
Playing 10 minutes a game, every game for the rest of the season for the Nets is unlikely.
Not playing PF in front of DFS, and CJ, not playing center in front of Dron, and Claxton.
Nets need guard help, More than Bigs, plus Noel will have to sit on nights against small-ball teams.
There were better roles, on other teams. Doubt he plays when Nets players are healthy. Ben Simmons is different, so Noel is not getting those minutes like filling a slot. It will be a team effort
I think Day’Ron is going to be sent to Long Island to help them win the G-League championship. The team is 20-3. Ben’s status is unclear, so Nerlens will get some run as Nic’s backup.
Boston, golden State and Memphis. OKC can give him another chance
Thought Whiteside was going to be a Net. Noel might be the best option for a big who can eat mins behind Claxton
Another process bust.
We will see. I don’t like this signing. Should of went somewhere else
Nah, I think it’s a good move. They were sooner to keep the spot open the rest of the season than fill it. Day’Ron Sharpe can get more playing time fighting for a G-League championship with Long Island and Ben can recover. The top available center coming to mind outside of Nerlens Noel is Serge Ibaka though someone on netsdaily.com mentioned Moses Brown.
Personally watching Nerl
His knee doesn’t track correctly
Looks like he’s rubbing on his meniscus or something is off when he runs
Half court defense god tho !
As soon as the 10 day is over the Celtics need to sign him.
This guy can never pick the right agent