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Dallas Mavericks: Nerlens Noel Suspended Five Games

By Kohl Rast

MEMPHIS, TN - OCTOBER 26: Head Coach Rick Carlisle talks with Nerlens Noel #3 of the Dallas Mavericks during a game against the Memphis Grizzlies at the FedEx Forum on October 26, 2017 in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. The Grizzlies defeated the Mavericks 96-91. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
MEMPHIS, TN - OCTOBER 26: Head Coach Rick Carlisle talks with Nerlens Noel #3 of the Dallas Mavericks during a game against the Memphis Grizzlies at the FedEx Forum on October 26, 2017 in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. The Grizzlies defeated the Mavericks 96-91. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
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The Dallas Mavericks will be without center, Nerlens Noel, for the remainder of the season, after violating the NBA and NBPA drug policy. He and Utah Jazz forward, Thabo Sefolosha will both miss the next five games.

Reports have surfaced today that Nerlens Noel has violated the drug policy for the NBA and will serve a five-game suspension. Shams Charania with Yahoo! Sports was the first to report the news.

Along with Noel, Utah Jazz forward, Thabo Sefolosha will also receive a five-game suspension. Both of these decisions came at the same time and both suspensions will be effective immediately.

This has been a whirlwind of a season for Noel, who turned down a 4-year/$70 million contract offer from the Dallas Mavericks this summer because he felt like he deserved more. After a season marred with rumors, DNP-CD’s, injury, and now this, even $70 million is looking like a very unlikely scenario for Noel.

This news comes not long after Noel was finally able to return to the court and was starting to show what he is capable of again. Unfortunately, as has been the case for most of this season, Noel’s actions off the court or away from the game have been his downfall. This could be a concern for other teams hoping to sign the young, talented center.

As of now, it is hard to see the Mavs lack of a deal with Noel this summer as anything more than a blessing. Some people have wanted to bring him back for next year, believing his price tag will be way down, but it may be best for Dallas to just pull the plug on the Noel situation and focus on someone new.

Something interesting that was pointed out on Twitter a few different times is that the NBA drug policy is semi lenient and does not go into suspensions until the third violation. Noel will need to clean up his act a little bit before next season rolls around.

Next: Looking Back at Dallas Mavericks in the NCAA Tournament

The future is not looking great for Nerlens Noel right now, but he has a chance to turn it around and become the player that everyone believes he can be. It just needs to start with a step in the right direction.

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