The Miami Heat, Portland Trail Blazers, Dallas Mavericks and Sacramento Kings are interested in trading for Detroit Pistons center Nerlens Noel, according to sources. Noel is ready to move on from Motor City.
“Both sides agree that a deal is best for both sides, and Detroit has already had discussions with competing teams about Noel,” said James L. Edwards of the Athletics.
On several NBA betting sites, the Heat have the 14th-best odds to win the championship in 2023. However, some sportsbooks are giving the Mavericks top-10 odds in the Western Conference.
The Pistons are looking to move Nerlens Noel, sources said @JLEDwardsIII.
The Blazers, Kings, Heat and Mavericks are the teams that are most likely to land the veteran big man.
Latest on Detroit: https://t.co/DuzGtSL02K pic.twitter.com/0enqb2YDi0
— The Athletic NBA (@TheAthleticNBA) December 13, 2022
“Portland, Sacramento, Miami and Dallas are all very busy teams looking to sign the 28-year-old,” Edwards added.
In six games off the bench with the Pistons, the center is averaging career-low numbers. Noel is averaging 1.8 points and 3.2 rebounds this season. He is also shooting 30.8% from the floor.
Noel was selected sixth overall by the Charlotte Hornets in the 2013 NBA Draft. He was then traded to the Philadelphia 76ers for Jrue Holiday and a 2014 first round draft pick for Pierre Jackson.
The Mavericks, Trail Blazers, Heat and Kings are interested in trading for Pistons center Nerlens Noel.
Noel has never played a full season in his ninth year career. The Kentucky product has dealt with several injuries during his NBA playing career.
During his freshman year at Kentucky in 2012-13, the center tore his left ACL. This caused Noel to miss his entire NBA rookie season with the Sixers.
He missed the 2016 Rising Stars Challenge due to tendinitis in his right knee. Later that year, Noel underwent surgery to repair an inflamed bladder above his left knee, which caused him to miss the first 23 games of the 2016-17 season.
The Mavs have been in touch with the Pistons regarding a trade, with Nerlens Noel being the name that came up in the talks. @IanBegley pic.twitter.com/q5Nc91ymmA
– NBA Retweet (@RTNBA) December 9, 2022
In the year In February 2017, the 76ers traded Noel to the Mavericks. In 22 games with Dallas that season, he averaged 8.5 points, 6.8 boards, 1.0 steals and 1.1 blocks.
Although Noel signed a one-year, $4.19 million qualifying waiver deal with the Mavs, the center continued to appear in just 30 games during the 2017-18 season. In 15.7 minutes per game, the former Sixer averaged 4.4 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.0 steals per contest.
Of the four teams with interest, Noel will probably choose the Mavericks or the Kings. Adding depth to a young, contending roster could help Sacramento look to end a 16-year playoff drought this offseason.
As for the Mavericks, they appeared in the Western Conference Finals last season. Of the teams interested, Dallas has the best chance to win the championship. Noel will compete with Dwight Powell and JaVale McGee for the starting center.
