Detroit Pistons: 3 free agent targets for center depth
Detroit Pistons: Nerlens Noel is a defensive-minded big to target in free agency
Standing at 6-11 and averaging 2.2 blocks per game in the 2020-21 season with the New York Knicks, Nerlens Noel would be a great rim protector to add to Detroit’s roster.
After bouncing around the league for the majority of his career, Noel has carved his niche in the league as a defensive-minded big man with lateral quickness and switchability.
Noel may not possess the same amount of agility and quickness as Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo, but he has the mobility necessary to hold his own against modern NBA offenses.
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Noel has a slimmer frame which makes him a little more vulnerable against larger bigs, but he has enough body strength to not be dominated in the post. The 27-year-old is mobile enough to not be a liability against guards when he’s switched onto them in pick-and-rolls.
The former Kentucky Wildcat has the versatility and mobility most NBA teams are looking for in their big men in today’s era of small ball.
Offensively, Noel is not going to be a dominant post scorer. The big man’s role on offense is limited, but it is a role he plays well. Noel will run pick-and-rolls and play the boards for offensive rebounds and putbacks.
As a big man off the bench to spell Stewart, Noel is an ideal candidate. The big man will play good defense and fill his role on the offensive end without issue. The 27-year-old is likely to be the most expensive of the three centers mentioned in this article, and he may be looking for a team that will utilize him as a starter.
If Noel’s market value is within Weaver’s price range and he is ok with a role coming off the bench, the 27-year-old would make for a very good option to target in free agency.