JULY 6th, 10:00pm: The signing is official, according to a team press release.
JULY 2nd, 1:55pm: Free agent center Nerlens Noel has reached an agreement to sign with the Thunder, league sources tell Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports. According to Charania, Noel will sign a two-year contract that includes a second-year player option. It’s a minimum deal, per Brett Dawson of The Oklahoman (Twitter link).
Noel, 24, began his NBA career with the Sixers as the sixth overall pick in the 2013 draft. After missing his rookie year with a knee injury, the big man played well in his next two seasons, averaging 10.5 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 1.8 SPG, and 1.7 BPG in 142 games.
However, with Joel Embiid, Jahlil Okafor, and Richaun Holmes in the mix at center for the 76ers in 2016/17 and Noel once again battling knee issues, he struggled to carve out a regular role and was eventually sent to Dallas at the trade deadline.
As a restricted free agent during the 2017 offseason, Noel reportedly passed on a four-year, $70MM offer from the Mavericks and ultimately signed his one-year qualifying offer, putting him on track for unrestricted free agency this summer. Once again limited by injuries, Noel appeared in just 30 games during his contract year in 2017/18, averaging 4.4 PPG and 5.6 RPG in 15.7 minutes per contest.
Noel will get an opportunity to rebuild his value in Oklahoma City, where he’ll presumably slot in as the team’s backup center behind Steven Adams. According to Charania, the Thunder “aggressively” pursued Noel in free agency, with head coach Billy Donovan meeting him on July 1. Russell Westbrook and Paul George pitched the young center on joining the club, Charania adds.
The Thunder’s agreement with Noel is the latest move in an eventful offseason for the franchise, which has already struck lucrative new deals with George and Jerami Grant.
The Thunder currently project to be way over the tax line, with team salary set to $160MM+, so cost-cutting moves are expected at some point along the way. Carmelo Anthony – who has an expiring contract worth $27.93MM – represents the most obvious candidate to be stretched, since the cap and tax savings created by reducing his cap hit to $9.31MM would be massive.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Good sign for OKC. Great couple of days for Rich Paul.
Hate to say it because I don’t think OKC has a sound plan, but this feels like a good signing for them and their unique combination of role players. They essentially have a solid defensive option at every position on their bench. The offense may be tough to find, but the opponent won’t be getting easy buckets vs OKC 2nd team.
They needed a backup big for Adam’s. That was lacking last year. Still need to add shooting
Good move. Even better move if it’s not the full MLE, but no big deal if it is.
This team has zero chance. At best 7/8 seed.
So there’s no need for the rest of us to watch the NBA season? Thanx for saving us so much time.
Nerlens Noel is an enigma, you don’t know which player you are getting; the self-absorbed prima donna who would rather have a hot dog or the hustling hard-working center….there’s a reason Philadelphia and my hometown Dallas Mavericks have given up on him…..Good Riddings….
Who would rather have a hotdog? Amazing how narratives can be created. You act like it was during game time.
Hot dog and popcorn during the game?.. that was Quinton Daily. When he was with the Clippers I think…
The fact that he signed a contract to get another year to earn the big one then just to say “oh my finger hurts” should tell you.
He’s a nice guy but not reliable
Nice job turning down 70 million dollars idiot. Lol
That was one of the more puzzling decisions of last offseason. How his agent talked him into not accepting that contract is past comprehensible. Add in the fact he has violated the NBA substance abuse multiple times (only pot but it still counts), he could never see a multi-million dollar year again. Past insane…
For what it’s worth, Noel’s agent at the time got fired and later said: “You can only advise. You cannot force people to do things they feel strongly about.” Maybe it was revisionist history on his part, but it sounded like he suggested Noel should take that offer.
I think this could end up being one of the bigger bargain signings of the year, if not the biggest. Of course he could continue to be awful too, but either way it’s worth the gamble by the Thunder.
Hoops Hype says if Thunder stretch Carmelo and replace him with player at league minimum, they will save $91 million. I like OKC. I’ll get NBA league pass next season to watch them, Warriors, Celtics, and Pacers.
The numbers are still fluid, but if you include the projected numbers for George/Grant/Noel and then assume the Thunder fill out the roster with the cheapest players possible (and don’t carry a 15th man), I have the following (approximate) numbers:
With Carmelo: $160.5MM team salary, $154.7MM tax
With min-salary player in Carmelo’s spot (after stretching him): $143.2MM team salary, $62.8MM tax
I have no idea what the Thunder are going to do, since stretching Carmelo would create additional problems in future seasons. It’ll be very interesting.
This is the problem I’ve been seeing everyone overlook. The Thunder are going to be an insanely expensive middle of the West team. If you have the money, I guess do it, but this kind of money is insane to pay for Carmelo – not the salary, but the salary plus tax to have him. I’m shocked they haven’t found a trade where they added a pick just to dump him.
Melo will get bought out (or traded and then bought out) and will end up with the Lakers.
It’s inevitable. Carmelo will wind up in L.A.
You sound like those guys that said Joe Johnson would do well on the Rockets.
Just another washed up Gunner that needs the perfect situation to succeed. He would ride the pine in LA.
I’m kinda wondering why there would be a player option if it’s a minimum deal. It’s not as is he’s gonna be out of the league.
It’s so the player has something to fall back on if the worst happens.
Melo needs to ask to be traded to Houston! I think that would be a good fit for him unless he’s cool with coming off the bench in OKC.
Melo will be bought out. Unless OKC gives up picks. Maybe The Lakers with Deng could do something but that is it. Portland and Denver have some bad contracts too.
Noel would have better lateral movement on a tricycle.
I like Noel, his numbers for the PT are always very good, he started the season well for Dallas & then was benched, I think he really needs for someone to bet on him & say you’ll be our starter this season go & be a beast kid. I was disappointed with Carlisle last season for misusing him. Still I rather him on the cheap than DJ at the golden price he is coming. Well done Oklahoma.
Carlisle did not misuse him Noel said his finger hurt and then when he came back trust was lost
I have to say, I’m looking forward to seeing Noel, Grant, Roberson, George and Westbrook playing D and getting out on the break…
Thanks for not saying “whilst”, what