Dallas Mavericks: What to expect with Nerlens Noel’s restricted free agency
Negotiations between restricted free agent Nerlens Noel and the Dallas Mavericks have reached a standstill.
While the rest of the league is wrapping up its free agency period, negotiations between the Dallas Mavericks and restricted free agent Nerlens Noel have stalled.
Perched atop the best remaining free agents available, according to Bleacher Report, Noel has exhibited a defensive prowess that went unmatched a season ago.
The 23-year-old forward was the only player to log at least 1,000 minutes and post over three steals and two blocks per 100 possessions.
Dallas essentially pulled a heist at February’s trade deadline, sending the expiring contract of Andrew Bogut, Justin Anderson and a pair of second round draft picks to the 76ers in order to acquire Noel.
The logjam in the frontcourt for Philadelphia forced the team to essentially give away Noel, freeing up minutes for Joel Embiid, Jahlil Okafor, Dario Saric and Richaun Holmes.
In a 22-game audition with the Mavericks, Noel posted averages of 8.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.1 blocks and 1.0 steals in 22 minutes a night.
While Nerlens Noel has shown plenty of promise as a defender, and could pair well in the frontcourt with Dirk Nowitzki as he provides some much-needed rim protection, Dallas has been hesitant to offer him a long-term contract.
Nerlens Noel and the Mavericks are "not close" to a deal, several league sources tell me.
— tim cato (@tim_cato) July 12, 2017
The Mavericks hold several advantages in negotiating a new deal with Noel, as he is a restricted free agent this summer, giving the team an opportunity to match any contract offered to him by another franchise.
Throughout the summer, Dallas has made it know it intends to keep Noel next season, but the team has decided to be patient and let the remaining market set the valuation of his contract.
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Noel has waited for another team to offer him a maximum contract, which could be worth up to $146 million over five years if he re-signed with the Mavericks, with reports surfacing prior to the start of free agency that multiple teams were willing to make a similar offer over four years.
Only it has yet to happen.
If another team managed to sign Noel to a contract this summer, it’s cap space would be frozen for up to a week, taking them out of the running for other players.
The Mavericks have plenty of cap space this summer, especially after Nowitzki once again agreed to take a pay cut, this time agreeing to a two-year, $10 million deal. Dallas has just under $69 million committed for the 2017-18 season.
The figure includes a qualifying offer to Nerlens Noel, worth $5.8 million, a contract that would make him an unrestricted free agent next summer if he signed.
Noel has shown plenty of promise, as he is an exceptional finisher at the rim and his shooting percentage of 59.5 percent would have ranked fifth in the NBA if he took enough shot attempts to qualify.
The primary reason for Dallas being reluctant to commit a large salary figure to Noel is his inability to remain on the floor for extended periods of time.
Noel was chosen with the sixth overall pick of the 2013 NBA Draft by New Orleans, but was immediately dealt to the 76ers in exchange for Jrue Holiday. The 6’11” forward missed the entire 2013-14 campaign as he recovered from a torn left ACL he suffered late in his freshman season at Kentucky.
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Once he stepped onto the court in 2014-15, Noel thrived, joining David Robinson as the only rookie since 1985 to post at least 125 blocks and 125 steals.
Noel progressed during his second season in the league, averaging 11.1 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.5 blocks per game, but left knee problems once again plagued him a year ago.
Prior to the start of the 2016-17 campaign, Noel underwent what Philadelphia determined to be a minor knee procedure, but he was forced to miss the first 22 games of the year.
During his brief time in Dallas, Noel has shown flashes, but lacked consistency. In perhaps his best outing of the year, Noel posted 15 points on just 10 shots, along with 17 rebounds, two blocks and a steal during a win over the Grizzlies.
The following game, Oklahoma City limited Noel to just four rebounds.
Without any other team presenting him an offer this summer, the Mavericks may let Noel play under a qualifying offer this year and determine if he is a piece of the team’s core going forward.
Next: 2017 NBA free agency tracker - Grades for every deal so far
The 2017-18 season will be an opportunity for Nerlens Noel to prove to Dallas, and the rest of the NBA, that he is worth signing to a maximum contract.