A Judge Has Dismissed Nerlens Noel’s $58 Million Lawsuit Against Rich Paul

One of the bigger stories that came out in 2021 was the news that NBA center Nerlens Noel was suing Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul. Noel had made claims that Paul's advice had cost him around $58 million in damages. He claimed that he had been offered a massive deal by the Dallas Mavericks that Paul advised him not to sign, and he never really got close to seeing that kind of money again. 

Rich Paul is one of the most powerful people in NBA circles. His involvement in the Ben Simmons saga last season was widely talked about, and he eventually managed to get Simmons away from Philadelphia. However, when news of Noel's lawsuit against him came out, many celebrated, as while Paul often gets the job done, he is not the most well-liked figure in NBA power broking circles. 

Noel, who has bounced around from team to team since he rejected the Mavericks' $70 million offer, currently finds himself with the Detroit Pistons. And he recently got some news that will have been far from pleasing for him. 

A Judge Has Dismissed Nerlens Noel's $58 Million Lawsuit Against Rich Paul

With Noel blaming Paul in his lawsuit for ignoring offers from other teams as well as barely working to secure good deals for him, the NBA world has an eye on proceedings. But as per the Sports Business Journal, a judge recently dismissed Noel's case in court. 

"A federal judge dismissed Pistons C Nerlens Noel's $54M lawsuit against his former agent Rich Paul and Paul's agency, Klutch Sports Group. Dallas-based district court judge Jane J. Boyle dismissed the lawsuit and sent it to the NBPA's arbitration system to be resolved. 'In sum, the Court has determined that a valid, enforceable agreement to arbitrate exists between the parties,' Boyle wrote, in her order."

Now, while some may think that this means Paul is cleared in the matter, that is not the case at all. The judge has sent the matter to arbitration, which simply means it will not be settled via a trial in court. The situation could still end up going against Paul and Klutch Sports. 

As far as Noel is concerned, he now finds himself on the Detroit Pistons, having been traded there by the New York Knicks. His stats have been declining steadily for a while, though, and with injuries recently hampering him, he will be well served by focusing on his game and getting back to performing well in the meanwhile.