UPDATE: Nerlens Noel signs with LeBron's agent, pushing for max contract

by:Jack Pilgrim08/21/17
Last night, we told you Nerlens Noel was opting for agent Dan Fegan to negotiate a new contract with the Dallas Mavericks. Today, the former Kentucky big man had a change of heart. According to Michael Scotto of Basketball Insiders, Noel has signed with agent Rich Paul of Klutch Sports. https://twitter.com/MikeAScotto/status/899781544025436160 Considered one of the top agents in all of professional sports, Paul also represents LeBron James, John Wall, Eric Bledsoe, Ben Simmons, Trey Lyles, and several others. Paul just negotiated John Wall's $207 million contract and has gotten every dime possible for LeBron and his cast of talent in Cleveland, as well. For Noel, it's max money or bust, and he hired the stud agent to make that happen. It was once a foregone conclusion that the former Kentucky star would be re-signing with the Dallas Mavericks, but now, things are up in the air. As we told you guys yesterday, NBC 5 in Dallas reported the 6'11 forward and the Mavericks were far apart on a deal, and other teams have resisted Noel's hefty price tag.
No other NBA clubs tried to sign the restricted 6-11 center. He has a one year qualifying offer of $5.8 million on the table but it’s not to his liking so he switched agents. “We’re in a holding pattern,” is what Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle told me back in July on NBC Sports Radio when I brought up the contract talks between Dallas and Noel. The NBA salary cap didn’t go up has high as many previously projected, so the summer of 2017 was not a bonanza some players hoped for.
The Mavs will have the opportunity to match any offer sheet Noel (RFA) signs, but if Paul is able to work his magic and negotiate a massive deal for Noel elsewhere, he might be a goner. If anyone can get the former flat-top sensation that bag of money, it's Rich Paul.

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