Many assumed when the Mavericks acquired Nerlens Noel in a trade before the 2017 NBA trade deadline that a quick and easy long-term extension was a mere formality as the Mavericks would pay big money to lock up their center of the future.
That has not been the case. We are almost three weeks into free agency and the Mavericks nor any other team it appears, has made a serious offer to Noel in free agency.
Here is what Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News reported on the situation on Tuesday:
“The Mavericks’ negotiations with Nerlens Noel remain far apart and the representative for the fourth-year center said Tuesday that the situation could drag on well into the summer.
“We’re very disappointed with where things stand,” Walters said. “Nerlens loves Dallas and spent June there working out, but we’re still waiting on a serious offer.”
It seems as though Noel is a victim of poor timing and the Mavericks are taking full advantage of the situation. There are a number of reasons why Noel has not been signed to the near max level offer sheet he was expecting. Because of a short postseason and a much lower salary cap, teams have less money available to spend. Many around the league are also reeling and wary of spending big money after all of the horrendous contracts of 2016 free agency. The final reason could be the most worrisome for Noel and his agent, the need and desire for NBA centers in today’s game, even mobile and athletic ones like Noel, are nowhere near as high with the position-less game the NBA has evolved into than they were even two years ago.
The Mavericks are keenly aware of all of these factors and their own desire to have financial flexibility moving forward when they transition into post-Dirk life are taking advantage of the lack of suitors. They have cash available to offer to Noel in a long-term deal and are banking on the ability to get him back next season for the qualifying offer of just under $5 million. This would also give them the chance to evaluate Noel more alongside Dennis Smith Jr. and see if they are convinced he is a building block moving forward.
They may end up with a very disgruntled Nerlens Noel, who can’t seem to catch a break after falling out of the rotation in Philadelphia in favor of Joel Embiid last season.
