Kings Waive Nerlens Noel, Neemias Queta

Both players were waived a week after Sacramento signed JaVale McGee to fill out the center position. The Kings now have Domantas Sabonis, Alex Len and McGee on the depth chart in the pivot.

Noel, 29, was signed to a one-year, $3 million deal back on July 18 after spending most of last season with the Pistons. Detroit waived him on Feb. 14, after he had appeared in just 14 games. He then signed a 10-day deal with the Nets and played in three more.

He came to Detroit after a trade with the Knicks in 2022 but hasn’t played in more than 25 games since the 2020-21 season. That year he appeared in 64 games, compiling averages of 5.1 points and 6.4 rebounds.

Noel is mostly known for his work on the defensive end, collecting rebounds and altering or blocking shots. He swatted a career-high 2.2 shots a game in 2020-21. The No. 6 overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, he has also spent time with the 76ers, Mavericks and Thunder.

Queta, 24, is 7-foot-0 and appeared in five games with the Kings last season, and 15 the year before that as a rookie. The modest guarantee on his contract ($250,000) would have doubled had he been on Sacramento’s opening night roster.