Dallas Mavericks ‘Touched Base’ With The Detroit Pistons About Trading For Nerlens Noel

Apparently, an additional ball handler isn’t the only need the Dallas Mavericks are interested in filling this season. The team is also looking to bolster its ranks at the center position.

According to NBA Insider Ian Begley of SportsNet New York, the Mavericks recently “touched base” with the Detroit Pistons about the availability of Nerlens Noel. Dallas is one of several teams who have struggled with rim protection that are interested in Noel.

Begley’s report is a little surprising, given the Mavericks’ moves in the off-season. Astute observers will remember that Dallas acquired big men Christian Wood and JaVale McGee last summer via trade and free agency, respectively.

Signing McGee to a three-year, $17 million contract and naming him a starter was explicitly done to shore up the Mavericks’ defensive presence in the middle. At least that’s what the team said at the time. It hasn’t quite worked out that way, however.

McGee didn’t mesh well with the starting unit and lost his starting job in early November to Dwight Powell. Now, McGee rarely cracks the rotation, if he even gets off the bench. So, would Noel fare any better in Dallas’ system?

Noel, amid a three-year, $27.72 million contract, was traded to the Pistons by the New York Knicks last summer. If the Mavericks’ interest in Noel is serious, it would be a reunion of sorts, as he already has one stint with the team under his belt.

He played for Dallas for parts of two seasons from 2017 until 2018 but spent much of the 2017-18 season sidelined after undergoing surgery to address an injury to his left thumb. Noel appeared in only 30 games that year. He finished the season away from the team after being suspended for violating the NBA’s anti-drug policy.

Before that, he turned down a four-year, $72 million offer from the Mavericks in the summer of 2017. He instead signed a one-year, $4.18 qualifying offer. His tenure in Dallas was tumultuous, to say the least.

Since then, Noel hasn’t found solid footing. However, he has been able to turn in some positive defensive performances with the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Knicks. He hasn’t seen the floor much in Detroit.

During his final year with the Knicks, Noel averaged 3.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 1.2 blocks in 22.5 minutes per game. He appeared in just 25 games.

If the Mavericks are so inclined, trading for Noel won’t be as easy as a simple one-for-one swap for McGee. Dallas can’t absorb the $9.24 million Noel is making this season because it will put them over the luxury tax threshold. Nor do the salaries work via the 125% plus $100,000 rule. McGee is earning $5.46 million this season.

The Mavericks need to include another player in any trade for Noel to make it work. Adding Frank Ntilikina to the deal would make it viable. Although it certainly wouldn’t be a sexy, headline-grabbing move for either club.

What Dallas’ front office is really saying by showing interest in Noel is that it made mistakes during the offseason. The more games McGee sits, the more glaringly apparent that fact becomes. While moving on from McGee could give the Mavericks some roster and lineup flexibility, rebooting Noel in Dallas seems like a stretch.

Of course, the Mavericks will have to sit on their hands a little longer if they envision a scenario in which they move McGee for Noel. The team can’t trade him until December 15. That’s the first day free agents who signed with their teams during the offseason can be traded.