NBA: No buyout: Mavs want to keep trying with Noel

Nerlens Noel, long regarded as a trade candidate, is still in the Dallas Mavericks squad after the deadline. They apparently want to try again with the center, maybe even in the long run.

Insider Marc Stein of the New York Times reports that the Mavs have no buyout plans for Noel. Instead, the Mavs want to bring the currently injured Noel back to the floor after the All-Star Break.

According to Stein, there is hope that the 23-year-old will gain a greater role in the team and remain in Dallas after the summer of 2018 – he will become an Unrestricted Free Agent.

Last summer, Noel caused a stir when he rejected a 70-million-euro offer from the Mavs and signed the qualifying offer for one year and 4.1 million dollars instead. His hope was that he would be offered a Max deal in 2018, but these opportunities are now vanishing.

He is currently recovering from thumb surgery. He was last on the 25th. November on the floor. In the current season he has an average of 4 points and 4.1 rebounds.