Dallas Mavericks: Reasons Why The Trade For Nerlens Noel Is A Great Move
Nerlens Noel is everything the Dallas Mavericks have been missing in a center since they let Tyson Chandler go in free agency.
The trade for Nerlens Noel is amazing in so many ways. First off, it was reported the Dallas Mavericks were looking to take on contracts in exchange for draft picks. So the trade for Noel was out of left field due to the aforementioned report.
It’s also a heist of a deal, especially with the heavily protected 2017 first-round pick involved. Mark Cuban and Donnie Nelson put their franchise in a great position for the future with this trade.
No Need To Wine and Dine
Dallas Mavericks fans know all about failed courtships that lead to late-night regrets. The summer of 2015 was a disappointing one.
They had a verbal agreement from DeAndre Jordan, only for him to renege on his original commitment and go back to the Los Angeles Clippers, leaving the Mavericks in a very rough position.
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All those nights in the club with Chandler Parsons gone to waste, just imagine those tabs.
The Mavericks seem to have learned from that costly mistake. Nerlens Noel is a free agent this summer, but even better for the Mavericks, he is a restricted free agent. Thus, allowing the Mavericks to match any offer thrown Noel’s way.
No longer having to smile in every selfie and hold every door for Noel, like a hopeless romantic on a first date. The Mavericks can attend to other players during the summer without having to worry about the progress of keeping Noel.
Of course the Mavericks will still attend to Noel, but they won’t have to walk on eggshells to keep him.
Mark Cuban Making the Opposition Sweat
The Dallas Mavericks fan base is usually in the “knees weak palms are sweaty” position in free agency, even being put in limbo for restricted free agent Parsons in the 2014 free agent period. The tables have turned and you know Cuban will use it to his advantage.
If a team (specifically a rival team) tries to make an offer for Noel, they will have to make sure their other potential signings don’t disappear in front of their eyes while waiting up to three days for the Mavericks to match.
The leverage is all on the Mavericks’ side, something that you don’t hear often nowadays. Another positive theory, Noel’s previous health issues could factor into teams reluctance to offer an absurd contract in fear of the Mavericks not matching.
Mark Cuban has the chance to put another GM in the shark tank (pun intended) thanks to this mind-boggling trade.
Nerlens Noel is Similar to Tyson Chandler
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Tyson Chandler was one of the focal points in the Dallas Mavericks lone NBA championship run and was let go twice by the Mavericks; the NBA is a cold business sometimes. Nerlens Noel is that same kind of player, but younger.
This is music to Mavs fans ears, music that hasn’t been played since Chandler left.
When you compare Chandler’s championship year to Noel’s 2015-16 campaign you will see some comparisons that make it respectable to compare the two.
Chandler’s offensive ability is underrated; due to the defensive impact he creates Noel is not quite there with his offensive ability. To be fair, some stats can also be skewed due to the quality of the team Chandler was on, especially when you compare to the sad Sixers of last season.
Donnie Nelson directly compared him to Tyson Chandler
"“He gives us an element we haven’t had here since Tyson Chandler. Shot blocking, rebounding, energy, big steals guy as well. He’s able to get out in the court and guard the pick and roll, which is a big asset these days, to be able to keep the smaller guy in front of you. So it gives us a dimension that we haven’t had here in a long time so we’re really more than ecstatic and excited about him.”"
A lot of promising comparisons, but Noel still has to prove them right with the Mavericks. The defensive stats for the Mavericks should see a spike as long as Noel is healthy. With Wesley Matthews, Harrison Barnes and Noel on the floor it could spell a nightmare for opposing offenses.
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Either way if things don’t work out, it would have just cost them Justin Anderson and the expiring contract of Andrew Bogut. The Dallas Mavericks are in win-win position.