Nerlens Noel signs 1-year, $4.1 million qualifying offer to return to Mavericks

Nerlens Noel is going to stay with the Mavericks next season on a one-year qualifying offer worth $4.1 million, according to ESPN’s Chris Haynes.

Noel was seeking a maximum contract offer he wasn’t able to get from the Mavs. He was offered a four-year, $70 million deal from Dallas on July 1, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, but that offer was pulled after he asked for the maximum contract, according to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon. His maximum contract offer could have been worth $146 million over five years.

In taking the qualifying offer now, Noel will become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2018, able to sign a deal with whichever team he wants. He’s taking a chance on himself this season to convince a team he’s worth the long-term investment.

Noel had been holding out for a maximum contract that the Mavs were never likely to offer. Knee injuries held him out of his first year in the league, and he appeared in just 51 games last season. When he’s healthy, he’s proven to be a solid center, but the market on centers without offensive polish is closing.

Noel’s also feeling the affects of the closing market in general, as most teams overspent as the cap spiked and are running out of cap space. Noel couldn’t get another team to offer him the max, and because of it, the Mavs had no pressure to ever pay him.

In an effort to command the max, Noel fired his agent, Happy Walters, and hired Rich Paul. Paul is notorious for holding out until players are paid. He couldn’t bring Noel the deal he wanted either, and Walters made sure to tweet about it.

Why this makes sense for the Mavericks

Dallas was in no rush to pay a player it wasn’t convinced on just yet. Noel played in just 22 games for the Mavs since he was dealt ahead of the trade deadline, averaging nine points and seven rebounds in 22 minutes. He was solid, and worth the original deal Woj reported, but his maximum contract asking price was steep, and Dallas didn’t want to risk it without reason to. Noel had no backup plan, and in taking the qualifying offer, the Mavs have a full season to assess his talent and fit next to No. 9 pick Dennis Smith.

Why this makes sense for Noel

It wasn’t what he had hoped for, but in search of a long-term, big-money contract this is the only route that makes sense for the 23-year-old about to sign his first major deal. Signing a four-year, $70 million contract would’ve left a lot of money on the table that he feels he’s worth.

If Noel can find success and stay healthy beside Smith, he has the opportunity to earn a lot more money in the long-term. He only has to convince one team. Of course he’s also risking re-injury, and has no guarantee of making up the difference in the summer of 2018. It’s a gamble.