The Brooklyn Nets are signing center Nerlens Noel to a deal after he reached a buyout with the Detroit Pistons, according to what ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski was told by Noel’s agent, George Langberg. Noels was officially waived by the Pistons on Feb. 28 after completing his buyout the previous day.
Since Noel’s buyout was done before Mar. 1, he will be eligible to play in the postseason, assuming that the Nets made it into postseason competition. According to The Athletic’s James L. Edwards III, there were six teams who called the Pistons about a Noel trade, but for some reason, Detroit decided to keep Noel despite not playing him much at all.
Noel, 28, hasn’t played much this season (14 games) as the Pistons were focused on their younger players given their rebuilding status right now. However, Noel can bring some defense and shot-blocking to the table for Brooklyn. Most likely, Noel will share backup center minutes with center Day’Ron Sharpe and forward Dorian Finney-Smith when the Nets decide to go small.
Free agent center Nerlens Noel is signing a deal with the Brooklyn Nets, his agent @GeorgeLangberg tells ESPN. After completing buyout with Pistons, Noel joins a Nets team needing some size off the bench.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 4, 2023
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