Former Sixer Nerlens Noel is reportedly unhappy with the offers he's receiving from the Dallas Mavericks so far.
The restricted free-agent center's agent, Happy Walters, said Dallas has "yet to come up with a realistic contract offer," per the Dallas News.
The Sixers traded Noel to the Mavericks at the trade deadline for swingman Justin Anderson, veteran big man Andrew Bogut (who was immediately bought out) and a heavily-protected 2017 first-round pick that conveyed to two second-round selections.
Earlier this summer before free agency began, a report claimed that multiple teams were prepared to offer Noel a max contract. The Mavericks would have the chance to match any offer. Now, most teams have their rosters close to set and a good chunk of their free agency money spent. Noel has most likely missed his opportunity to cash in this offseason, and a lucrative long-term deal might be out of the question for now.
The Sixers shipped Noel to Dallas to avoid the scenario that never panned out. It was unlikely they would have been able to afford a long-term deal with the 23-year-old and elected to fetch a return while they could.
"The situation with Nerlens, him being an RFA certainly affected how people approached that type of player," Sixers president of basketball operations Bryan Colangelo said after the trade. "It was more or less the case that concern with how that contract might look in the future was a concern and (caused) apprehension."
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During his 22-game stint with Dallas, Noel averaged 8.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.1 blocks and one assist in 22 minutes per game. With the Sixers, Noel averaged 10.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 1.6 blocks in 171 games with the team.
Noel was originally drafted No. 6 overall out of Kentucky by the New Orleans Pelicans in 2013. He was acquired in a draft night trade along with a protected first-round pick (which would eventually turn into Elfird Payton, which would eventually turn into Dario Saric and the Sixers getting one of their own picks back) for guard Jrue Holiday and a second-round pick.
