Knicks center Nerlens Noel is a free agent this summer and the 27-year-old is expected to draw interest from a number of suitors. The Raptors and Kings are among the teams eyeing the center, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.
Sacramento’s interest is contingent on what happens with Richaun Holmes, who is also hitting the free-agent market. Holmes is expected to have multiple suitors and should he slip away from Northern California, the Kings would have a void to fill.
The Knicks are also expected to make a run at keeping Noel, who joined the club prior to the 2020-21 campaign. The former No. 6 overall pick filled in admirably when Mitchell Robinson went down with injuries, helping Tom Thibodeau & Co. maintain a competitive defense. The Mavericks, Nets, and Hornets are also potential suitors for Noel, Ian Begley of SNY TV relays.
Noel came into the league as one of the first members of The Process, spending two-and-a-half seasons in Philadelphia before the team traded him to Dallas. In addition to the Sixers, Mavs, and Knicks, the big man also spent two seasons with the Thunder.
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Knicks Aggressively Pursuing Collin Sexton?
Collin Sexton‘s future with the Cavaliers remains in doubt and the Knicks are reportedly seen as the most aggressive suitor for his services.
Rumors of the guard being “very available” have swirled as the Cavaliers continue trade talks with teams around the league. Financial concerns could be behind the team’s hesitation about a potential Sexton extension, as the Alabama product is eligible for a deal that could pay him as much as $168 million over five seasons. It seems unlikely it will take a max deal to ink Sexton to an extension but anywhere close is still hindering the Cavs’ future flexibility given Jarrett Allen‘s potential deal and a looming deal for Darius Garland next year.
New York has an extra first-rounder this year, owning the No. 19 and No. 21 overall selections in the 2021 draft, and one of those picks could be a starting point in trade discussions. The franchise has long had a need for a clear answer at the point guard position and Sexton could potentially provide them with that.
Sexton has only missed 12 games in his entire three-year pro career, all of which came last season. He carries career averages of 20.2 points, 3.4 assists, and 3.0 rebounds while shooting 45.8 percent from the field and 38.5 percent on three-pointers. He is a career 83.1 percent shooter from the free-throw line.
