Heading into this summer, one of the under-the-radar restricted free agents will be veteran big man Nerlens Noel, who is set to hit the open market for the first time in his NBA career.
Noel is an intriguing case given his youth and talent, but has a well-documented injury past. However, Mike Fisher of DallasBasketball.com is reporting that several teams are expected to express their interest in the 23-year-old in free agency.
A source from another NBA team (not the Mavs) tells me that there will be “multiple” clubs willing to pay Noel his max once he hits the restricted-free-agent market on July 1.
If that notion is indeed true, that would put a potential max deal at $108.5 million over four years that would pay him about $25.2 million per season. The Dallas Mavericks have the ability to match any deal that is presented to him given that he is a restricted free agent.
Noel was acquired by the Mavericks from the Philadelphia 76ers prior to the February trade deadline this past regular season. He averaged 8.5 points on 57.5 percent shooting from the field with 6.8 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks in 21 games played, including 12 starts, with Dallas.
The ball appears to be in the Mavericks' court as they will hold the final decision on whether he returns next season and beyond.
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