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Nerlens Noel Receives Contract Buyout; Possible Landing Spots

Originally posted on NBA Analysis Network
By Kenneth Teape | Last updated 2/28/23

The Detroit Pistons have continued reshaping their roster post the NBA trade deadline. After signing RJ Hampton off the buyout market, they have opted to move on from veteran center Nerlens Noel.

Detroit had looked into trading Noel ahead of the deadline, but nothing materialized. The Pistons did make a sizable trade, acquiring James Wiseman from the Golden State Warriors as part of a four-team deal.

With Wiseman in the fold, Noel’s already minuscule chances of getting on the court shrunk to virtually zero. As a result, the Pistons and Noel agreed to a contract buyout according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. As a result of the buyout being completed, Noel is eligible for a playoff roster.

Center Nerlens Noel and the Detroit Pistons have completed a contract buyout, his agent @GeorgeLangberg tells ESPN. Noel can join a team and become eligible for a playoff roster.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 27, 2023

Noel has played sparingly this season as Dwane Casey has opted to play the younger players that he has in the frontcourt. Isaiah Stewart and Jalen Duren have handled a majority of the minutes at the center spot along with Marvin Bagley III.

That led to Noel making only 14 appearances this season, averaging 10.9 minutes per game. He has scored 2.3 points with 2.6 rebounds. When at his best, Noel isn’t going to make a major impact offensively, but he can be a legitimate game-changer on the defensive end of the court.

During the 2020-21 season with the New York Knicks, Noel averaged 2.2 blocks and 1.1 steals per game. He was a key part of the team earning the No. 4 seed and making the playoffs and could make a similar impact on a team hoping to make the playoffs this season.

There are a few teams that could look into bringing Noel into the fold now that he is hitting the market. The Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks were two teams that checked in ahead of the deadline and could look into adding him once he clears waivers. The Golden State Warriors could also use a defensive upgrade in the frontcourt and Noel would be a good fit in that regard.

This article first appeared on NBA Analysis Network and was syndicated with permission.

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