
The Detroit Pistons and big man Nerlens Noel have agreed to a contract buyout sending the big man to free agency. This buyout happened before the March 1st deadline which will allow Noel to sign and play for a team in the 2022-23 NBA Playoffs. The expectation is Noel will quickly work to sign with a contender as that team prepares for the final stretch heading into the postseason. With the Pistons contending for a top pick in the 2023 NBA Draft Lottery, it makes sense that both the team and Noel would want to go in different directions.
Center Nerlens Noel and the Detroit Pistons have completed a contract buyout, his agent @GeorgeLangberg tells ESPN. Noel can join a team and become eligible for a playoff roster.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 27, 2023
This season in just 14 games and 10.9 minutes with the Detroit Pistons, Nerlens Noel averaged 2.3 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 0.5 assists per game. He paired those numbers with a field goal percentage of 40 percent and a three-point percentage of 50 percent. With the drafting of Jalen Duren, the team had limited space for Noel to play. The team is also still in a tanking position and wants to continue preparing for the future. Several playoff-contending teams will likely reach out to the defensive-minded big man in the coming days.