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If you’ve been waiting for Nerlens Noel to re-up with the Dallas Mavericks, get comfortable. It may still be a while.
Noel’s agent Happy Walters told Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News on Tuesday that he and his client are “very disappointed” with how negotiations have gone on between Dallas and the 23-year-old restricted free agent big man.
"Nerlens loves Dallas and spent June there working out,” Walters told Sefko, “but we're still waiting on a serious offer."
Walters’ words coincides with what our own Tim Cato reported during summer league, that the Mavericks and Noel are “not close” to a deal. This came moments after Noel was spotted at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, speaking with Dallas owner Mark Cuban and even getting head coach Rick Carlisle to enter the world of social media.
"Who dat" @NerlensNoel3 and Coach Carlisle! #NBASummer pic.twitter.com/hFrNdRSoR6
— NBA Summer League (@NBASummerLeague) July 12, 2017
Alas, we are about three weeks into July and no deal has been struck. The Mavericks could still be waiting on another team to give Noel an offer sheet, but with how quickly the market dried up for teams (Atlanta, Brooklyn, New York) that can offer max slots, it looks like the ball is in Dallas’ court.
Dirk Nowitzki’s willingness to take much less than a max contract this summer paved the way for Dallas to throw money at Noel, but the waiting game may go deep into the summer.