Pass!
Atlanta Hawks
Most of the teams with money to spend this summer are those currently in the midst of a rebuild, and one of them, in particular, could make sense as a Noel landing spot.
The Atlanta Hawks have a promising young big man already in John Collins, but he spent most of his rookie campaign manning the 4-spot. With Dewayne Dedmon, their current starting at the 5, set to turn 29 before next season and owning a player option on his contract for 2018-19, one he could very well opt out of, the Hawks could target a young center to pair next to Collins.
A good match could be Noel.
With his quick feet defensively on the perimeter and rim-diving prowess, he and Collins’ skill-sets could complement each other nicely, especially if Collins’ three-point stroke (he hit 34 percent of his 47 attempts in his inaugural campaign) continues to improve.
What’s more, when Noel had his game rolling early in his career, he showed nasty rim-protecting instincts so not only could he defend stretch-4 types with Collins in the paint, the duo could switch roles seamlessly if they needed to.
There’s also the Lloyd Pierce connection. The new Hawks head coach spent four seasons as an assistant for the Philadelphia 76ers, and was there for the entirety of Noel’s career in the City of Brotherly Love. If anyone remembers Noel’s early-career form, when he was a double-digit scorer who also averaged nearly two blocks and two steals nightly, it’s Pierce.
Taking a shot on a 24-year-old talent like Noel could be a worthwhile gamble for Atlanta, who have their work cut out for them in order to improve their young core, which we ranked as the 20th-strongest in the league back in February.
The fact that Noel should come cheap also doesn’t hurt matters. A deal along the lines of a two-year, $7 million agreement, with a team option on Year-2, could be enough to get things done between the two parties. https://hoopshype.com/2018/05/24/nerlens-noel-dallas-mavericks-free-agency/
Sent from my SM-N920P using RealGM mobile app
Four potential Nerlens Noel landing spots in free agency
Moderators: dms269, HMFFL, Jamaaliver
Four potential Nerlens Noel landing spots in free agency
- HMFFL
- Global Mod
- Posts: 53,951
- And1: 10,344
- Joined: Mar 10, 2004
Re: Four potential Nerlens Noel landing spots in free agency
-
- Head Coach
- Posts: 7,444
- And1: 1,095
- Joined: Jun 15, 2009
-
Re: Four potential Nerlens Noel landing spots in free agency
There's zero chance Noel signs a 2 year, $7M deal. Even after this terrible last season, he's still looking at $8M+ per year purely on potential.
Re: Four potential Nerlens Noel landing spots in free agency
-
- Senior
- Posts: 709
- And1: 554
- Joined: Jun 26, 2017
-
Re: Four potential Nerlens Noel landing spots in free agency
- Jamaaliver
- Forum Mod - Hawks
- Posts: 45,151
- And1: 17,179
- Joined: Sep 22, 2005
- Location: Officially a citizen of the World...
- Contact:
-
Re: Four potential Nerlens Noel landing spots in free agency
There are worse signings. I'd give every spare spot to reclamation projects like Noel and Alex Len.
Offer modest contracts with team options on short term basis. See what rises to the top.
Offer modest contracts with team options on short term basis. See what rises to the top.
Re: Four potential Nerlens Noel landing spots in free agency
-
- General Manager
- Posts: 8,715
- And1: 5,139
- Joined: Jul 01, 2017
Re: Four potential Nerlens Noel landing spots in free agency
Jamaaliver wrote:There are worse signings. I'd give every spare spot to reclamation projects like Noel and Alex Len.
Offer modest contracts with team options on short term basis. See what rises to the top.
Re: Four potential Nerlens Noel landing spots in free agency
-
- RealGM
- Posts: 20,249
- And1: 12,908
- Joined: Mar 11, 2014
-
Re: Four potential Nerlens Noel landing spots in free agency
I'm ok with offering a short term deal at the right price. If Dedmon leaves for a contender he can only get a max of the $8.6 MLE. Teams with capspace to offer him more are cellar dwellers like us. Indy has capspace, so that would be a good fit also.
A 2yr/$8mil per is ok for Noel. He's still young enough.
A 2yr/$8mil per is ok for Noel. He's still young enough.
Re: Four potential Nerlens Noel landing spots in free agency
-
- Freshman
- Posts: 57
- And1: 85
- Joined: Jan 21, 2017
-
Re: Four potential Nerlens Noel landing spots in free agency
Meh doesn't move the needle for me, rather save the space for someone who won't need crutches midway thru the season. Gimpy
Re: RE: Re: Four potential Nerlens Noel landing spots in free agency
- HMFFL
- Global Mod
- Posts: 53,951
- And1: 10,344
- Joined: Mar 10, 2004
Re: RE: Re: Four potential Nerlens Noel landing spots in free agency
I have seen enough of him in Philly and now Dallas. Thankfully he passed on a massive deal with Dallas but I hope we don't seriously consider him this off-season.LamarHampton wrote:Meh doesn't move the needle for me, rather save the space for someone who won't need crutches midway thru the season. Gimpy
Sent from my SM-N920P using RealGM mobile app
Re: Four potential Nerlens Noel landing spots in free agency
- ATL Boy
- Retired Mod
- Posts: 10,959
- And1: 4,005
- Joined: May 15, 2011
- Location: Atlanta GA
-
Re: Four potential Nerlens Noel landing spots in free agency
I'd be fine with us signing Noel. We desperately need an influx of talent and to get that talent for cheap (and without having to trade anything) would be welcomed by me.
Sent from my iPhone using RealGM Forums
Sent from my iPhone using RealGM Forums
SichtingLives wrote:life hack:
When a man heaves a live chainsaw towards you from distance, stand still. No one has good accuracy throwing a chainsaw.
Re: Four potential Nerlens Noel landing spots in free agency
-
- RealGM
- Posts: 29,104
- And1: 10,313
- Joined: May 01, 2010
Re: Four potential Nerlens Noel landing spots in free agency
My two cents on Nerlens:
You don’t want Noel guarding the 4, but he can certainly switch out on the perimeter. Has very quick hands. Is not really a great post defender, rather a very good help defender. Decent rebounder. Offensively, he’s a roll man who can elevate quickly and dunk lobs. If you try to post him, though, he’s likely to turn it over. Has a bit of a midrange game, and can on occasion even hit a 3. He has an entourage problem, the people he hangs with drag him down. Is a Rich Paul client, likely won’t settle for anything under the MLE and still has thoughts of the big money.
Still, I’d bring him back to Philly if the opportunity presented itself, he is well liked in the locker room here by all accounts. Dallas I think has another opinion on that
But I do think he’d make a very good addition to the Hawks.
You don’t want Noel guarding the 4, but he can certainly switch out on the perimeter. Has very quick hands. Is not really a great post defender, rather a very good help defender. Decent rebounder. Offensively, he’s a roll man who can elevate quickly and dunk lobs. If you try to post him, though, he’s likely to turn it over. Has a bit of a midrange game, and can on occasion even hit a 3. He has an entourage problem, the people he hangs with drag him down. Is a Rich Paul client, likely won’t settle for anything under the MLE and still has thoughts of the big money.
Still, I’d bring him back to Philly if the opportunity presented itself, he is well liked in the locker room here by all accounts. Dallas I think has another opinion on that

Re: Four potential Nerlens Noel landing spots in free agency
-
- RealGM
- Posts: 10,387
- And1: 12,675
- Joined: Mar 03, 2013
Re: Four potential Nerlens Noel landing spots in free agency
Im another Sixers fan who is a Noel supporter and believe he will be in the running for MIP next year if he gets an opportunity like Atlanta. I also thinks talks of his "bad attitude" are really overstated.
Re: Four potential Nerlens Noel landing spots in free agency
- Jamaaliver
- Forum Mod - Hawks
- Posts: 45,151
- And1: 17,179
- Joined: Sep 22, 2005
- Location: Officially a citizen of the World...
- Contact:
-
Re: Four potential Nerlens Noel landing spots in free agency
HMFFL wrote:There’s also the Lloyd Pierce connection. The new Hawks head coach spent four seasons as an assistant for the Philadelphia 76ers, and was there for the entirety of Noel’s career in the City of Brotherly Love. If anyone remembers Noel’s early-career form, when he was a double-digit scorer who also averaged nearly two blocks and two steals nightly, it’s Pierce.
Taking a shot on a 24-year-old talent like Noel could be a worthwhile gamble for Atlanta.
The fact that Noel should come cheap also doesn’t hurt matters.
https://hoopshype.com/2018/05/24/nerlens-noel-dallas-mavericks-free-agency/
I forgot our new coach has ties to the kid...
With that in mind, I'd leave it up to Coach Pierce. If he believes there is untapped potential there, go for it...on a modest deal.
Re: Four potential Nerlens Noel landing spots in free agency
-
- RealGM
- Posts: 20,249
- And1: 12,908
- Joined: Mar 11, 2014
-
Re: Four potential Nerlens Noel landing spots in free agency
the_process wrote:My two cents on Nerlens:
You don’t want Noel guarding the 4, but he can certainly switch out on the perimeter. Has very quick hands. Is not really a great post defender, rather a very good help defender. Decent rebounder. Offensively, he’s a roll man who can elevate quickly and dunk lobs. If you try to post him, though, he’s likely to turn it over. Has a bit of a midrange game, and can on occasion even hit a 3. He has an entourage problem, the people he hangs with drag him down. Is a Rich Paul client, likely won’t settle for anything under the MLE and still has thoughts of the big money.
Still, I’d bring him back to Philly if the opportunity presented itself, he is well liked in the locker room here by all accounts. Dallas I think has another opinion on thatBut I do think he’d make a very good addition to the Hawks.
Forgot about that part.

Re: Four potential Nerlens Noel landing spots in free agency
-
- Sixth Man
- Posts: 1,858
- And1: 70
- Joined: Aug 23, 2005
- Location: CATLANTA
Re: Four potential Nerlens Noel landing spots in free agency
He would fit with the Pierce strategy as far as I have been reading re: Noel’s skillset.
Dedmon seems to be a better pro if I had a choice between the 2 and who would help us more. But if we are tanking, we can put Plumlee in there and get the result TravisS is looking for: another high pick.
Dedmon seems to be a better pro if I had a choice between the 2 and who would help us more. But if we are tanking, we can put Plumlee in there and get the result TravisS is looking for: another high pick.