8:12pm: The duo has officially been waived, according to a team press release.
5:02pm: The Kings are waiving centers Nerlens Noel and Neemias Queta, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski tweets.
Both big men were signed by Sacramento this offseason to partially guaranteed one-year deals, but the Kings subsequently signed JaVale McGee to a guaranteed one-year deal after he cleared waivers.
The Kings want to give Noel and Queta an opportunity to hook on with another organization before training camp rather than hanging onto them and then waiving them shortly before the season begins.
Noel was signed to a one-year, veteran’s minimum deal as a free agent this summer. He received a $300K guarantee, which would have increased to $600K if he made the 15-man opening night roster.
Noel has appeared in 467 career regular season games since being drafted sixth overall in 2013 but didn’t play much in 2022/23. After being traded from New York to Detroit during the 2022 offseason, the 29-year-old appeared in 14 games for the Pistons, who bought him out at the end of February. He signed a 10-day contract with Brooklyn and played in three games for the Nets, but didn’t get a second 10-day and finished the season as a free agent.
The Kings signed Queta to a two-year, minimum-salary contract. His $2,019,706 salary for the upcoming season included a $250K guarantee, while the second season was non-guaranteed. The guarantee for the upcoming season would have doubled if he was on the opening night roster.
Queta has been on Sacramento’s roster the past two seasons, appearing in a total of 20 NBA games. The 7’0” Queta was a second-round pick in 2021 out of Utah State.
Noel and Queta were projected to fight for one roster spot as the No. 3 center behind Domantas Sabonis and Alex Len. That changed when the Mavericks waived McGee and the Kings signed him after he cleared waivers. Sacramento has 14 guaranteed contracts and could explore other options, or just leave open the 15th roster spot.
Celtics should sign Noel
I liked Noel at one time! Thought he was very quick and got steals but Celtics now want big men who can shoot threes so … . And then there’s the money factor. Whatever Brad does is ok.
Not noel bos should offer queta the 3rd 2way spot
Didn’t get Noel but got Queta. Good move for them as he’s younger and could be better possibly in a year or two.
Sad to see Nemi go, he’s only 24 and might regret keeping Len over him in 2-3 years, when McGee retires and Len is old and not good anymore. Surprising to see them let the G-league MVP runner up leave for nothing.
Hope they use that 15th spot to sign a 3rd true PG. Ish Smith, Austin Rivers?
I’m honestly surprised to see Queta go, of course it was just the Summer League, but the dude looked like he could at the very least be a useful backup big.
He showed solid passing skills, good ability to rebound both offensively and defensively, showed a solid post game. I don’t think he really fits “today’s Center,” but he could have definitely been useful against teams with more size…
Hopefully someone picks this man up, because he definitely has the skills to be in the NBA. Even if it is just 10-12 minutes a night, I think Queta could be a positive for most teams. It is absolutely crazy what the game has done eliminating so many quality big men.
“Today’s center?” ” … “eliminating so many quality big men.” Yep! Especially considering how rebounding seemed to be the key to winning the just ended FIBA World Cup.
GS should try to get Queta
Nerlens Noel is only 29??
Seems like only yesterday that his agent was turning down a big, fat contract offer from Dallas….
Gonna be some good talent in the G-league this year.
Every year 50 players push out 50 players. There are probably 20 that should not be on a roster and 20 that should be.,
Kings get a F- this off-season
That was quick. I guess they like McGee more. Makes sense. Noel can help a team. He’s solid as a backup. And for a center can guard the perimeter, well enough.
Should of waived Len and looked at ford another time