Report: Nerlens Noel to Finish Out the Season in Dallas

Despite the drama and lack of minutes for Nerlens Noel in Dallas, he is set to finish the season in Dallas.

The Dallas Mavericks traded Justin Anderson, Andrew Bogut, and two second round picks for Nerlens Noel last year in a move that many thought that would bring the next franchise center to Dallas.

Noel was 22 years old at the time and the former 6th overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft. Plagued by injuries in Philadelphia, Noel was set to hit restricted free agency when the Mavericks traded for him last February.

Free agency came and the drama ensued as Dallas and Noel’s camp couldn’t come to terms on a long-term deal. After Noel decided to fire his agent in Happy Walters and hire a new agent in Rich Paul, he signed his one-year qualifying offer worth $4.1 million.

This allowed Noel the opportunity to hit unrestricted free agency in 2018 and the ability to deny any trade from happening this season.

Despite being completely removed from the rotation, Noel elected to have surgery on his thumb and has been inactive since December 6, 2017. With the trade deadline coming and going with Noel still on the roster in Dallas, many speculated on him as a buyout candidate or someone to be waived before the March 1st deadline to join a playoff team.

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Marc Stein reports that Dallas has no plans to buy out Noel and wants to see what they have in Noel after the All-Star break.

If Noel is available to play after the All-Star break, this would allow Dallas four games with Noel before the March 1st deadline. Essentially, Dallas could test it out for a few games before potentially buying him out.

But that isn’t the plan.

Nerlens Noel will finish out the season in Dallas according to a source.

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Noel will not only finish out the month of February in Dallas, but will finish out the regular season with the Mavericks barring a surprise, change of heart waiving from the Mavericks.