Nerlens Noel could make his impending return sooner than later, as Eddie Sefko of The Dallas Morning News said he could see the floor as soon as Friday against the Los Angeles Lakers, but made no guarantees. He is slated to wear a splint in his injured thumb upon his return.
Noel has missed the last 39 games of the season with a thumb injury and while most believed that he was destined to take part in Rick Carlisle's dog house, he could be lacing them up in the near future.
The big man has only appeared in 69 games between the last two seasons — only two more games than in 2015-16, where he logged 62 starts for the Philadelphia 76ers in 67 games.
Noel has taken a major cut in playing time after being traded to the Dallas Mavericks, playing an average of 22 minutes last season — one that has been diminished to a mere 12.5 minutes per game through the start of this campaign.
The Kentucky product has had a rough patch since being traded, seeking a max contract over the offseason, but yielding zilch by the end of the summer, now playing for his next contract, bound to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season.
The 23-year-old has disappointed so far, putting up 4.0 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 0.6 blocks per game for the struggling Mavericks, who at 18-40 have more issues beyond the court to worry about, after the recent sexual harassment allegations brought to the forefront.
Noel's comeback would help him make a case for the Mavs to keep him or sign his destiny away for another team to take a chance at him.
Follow Us
Subscribe
