The saga around Nerlens Noel’s future is reportedly over. At least for one year. This 23-year-old center has signed the $4.1M one year qualifying offer with the Mavericks according to multiple sources. This way Noel will become an unrestricted free agent next year. According to Adrian Wojnarowski, Nerlens Noel previously had a 4-year, $70 million offer from Mavericks made on July 1st, that he turned down.
Nerlens Noel clearly betting on himself with acceptance of $4.1M QO. He turned down 4-year, $70M Mavs offer made on July 1, sources say.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 26, 2017
Noel asked for a max deal, and when Mavs were unveiling to give him that, he decided to explore other options. Dallas Mavericks pulled the4 -year, $70 million offer soon after. Other teams were unwilling to give him better offers, so Noel’s acceptance of the qualifying offer was the only way to go. He obviously thinks he deserves the max so he will be free to pursue it next season. Given his history of injuries, the only way this can happen if he stays healthy and has an outstanding season. This would favor both Noel and Dallas, who are hoping to get a good production from a player who isn’t a big burden to their salary cap.
Playing one season of college basketball for the University of Kentucky, Noel averaged 10.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 4.4 blocks, and 2.1 steals per game. He entered 2013 NBA draft, projected as a top 5 pick and even the first pick by some. He ended up being drafted by New Orleans Pelicans as 6th overall pick and immediately traded to Philadelphia 76ers alongside 2014 first round pick for Jrue Holiday. He ended up missing the entire 2013-2014 season due to a knee injury. After solid two and a half seasons at 76ers, Noel was traded in February 2017 to the Mavericks for Andrew Bogut, Justin Anderson, and a 2017 first-round pick. In his 22 games played for the Dallas Mavericks, Noel averaged 8.5 points and 6.8 rebounds per game alongside 1 steal and 1.1 blocks.
