Free-agent center Nerlens Noel has agreed to sign a two-year contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder, reports Yahoo’s Shams Charania:
Free agent Nerlens Noel has agreed to a deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder, league sources tell Yahoo.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 2, 2018
Sources: Nerlens Noel will sign a two-year deal with Oklahoma City, including a player option in Year 2. https://t.co/b4UQeBEDUU
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 2, 2018
The deal will be at the minimum, per to Tim Bontemps of the Washington Post:
Not sure if this is out there yet, but can confirm Nerlens Noel is signing with the Thunder on a minimum deal. Giving him a player option will cause the Thunder to have to spend more this year, though (the option means it doesn't fall under the minimum exception).
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) July 2, 2018
According to Aldridge, the Thunder’s pitch to Noel was a fairly aggressive one:
Vet minimum for Nerlens Noel in OKC (@ShamsCharania first), who picked the Thunder over the Lakers and Wizards. Billy Donovan contacted him immediately Saturday morning, and Russell Westbrook and Paul George both reached out as well.
— David Aldridge (@daldridgetnt) July 2, 2018
Noel will presumably be the Thunder’s backup center behind Steven Adams.
Noel could be an excellent value signing for the Thunder. After being drafted sixth overall in 2013 by the Philadelphia 76ers and having a very promising start to his career (he averaged 11.1 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.5 blocks per game in his sophomore season), Noel fell out of Philly’s rotation and was traded to the Dallas Mavericks during the 2016-17 season, where he found himself in an even worse situation.
After facing disappointing prospects in last summer’s free agency, Noel took his $4.1 million qualifying offer to return to the Mavs. He had a dispiriting 2017-18 campaign, playing just 30 games and averaging 4.4 points and 5.6 rebounds per game.
It was clear that Noel and Mavs head coach Rick Carlisle couldn’t make things work in Dallas. A fresh start is exactly what Noel needs. He’s exactly the sort of defensive-minded, athletic center many teams crave. He projects to be a very solid addition to OKC’s bench.
