Nerlens Noel to sign 2-year contract with Oklahoma City Thunder

Nerlens Noel has found his new NBA home.

The former Kentucky Wildcats center is signing with the Oklahoma City Thunder, according to Shams Charania. The deal is reportedly for two years with a player option for Year 2.

That’s the ideal contract for Noel, who is looking to reignite his NBA career after a disastrous two-year stint with the Dallas Mavericks.

After being taken sixth overall in the 2003 NBA Draft, Noel has yet to reach his full potential. in the league during stints with the Mavericks and Philadelphia 76ers. A big reason is injuries have limited him to a combined 81 games over the past two seasons. He was acquired from the 76ers at the trade deadline in February 2016.

Last offseason, Noel was a restricted free agent hoping to receive a long-term extension. But after his market never developed, Noel eventually signed the $4.1 million qualifying offer from the Mavs for the 2017-18 season.

Noel ended up averaging a career-low 15.7 minutes per game with 4.4 points and 5.6 rebounds per contest. He missed 42 games after suffering a torn thumb ligament in a November game against the Memphis Grizzlies.

Then came a five-game suspension for violating the NBA’s anti-drug program to end the season, as he wound up appearing in just 30 games.

Noel will now team up with former Wildcats Dakari Johnson and Patrick Patterson in OKC.

Good luck to Noel in his new NBA venture.

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