Nerlens Noel with his former team, the Philadelphia 76ers. (Wikipedia Commons. Author: Patriarca12)
On Monday, center Nerlens Noel signed a two-year minimum contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder in free agency, a deal that includes a player option.
The 24-year-old was the No. 6 overall draft pick to the New Orleans Pelicans in 2013. He was then traded to the Philadelphia 76ers after missing his rookie season with an injury.
SLIDESHOW: 30 Best Sports Instagrams!
Last season, Noel also battled a thumb injury that kept him sidelined for a stretch. In April, he was suspended five games for violating the NBA’s anti-drug policy.
Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter!
A week of sports news in your in-box.
We find the sports news you need to know, so you don't have to.
Noel will now play beside All-Stars like Paul George, who rejected the Los Angeles Lakers to stay in Oklahoma City after signing a four-year contract. The center’s former agent Happy Walters revealed Noel passed on a $70 million extension with the Dallas Mavericks last offseason. Instead, Noel signed the squad’s $4.1 million qualifying offer to enter free agency this year.
SLIDESHOW: 10 Highest-Paid Athletes
The Thunder — which are reportedly focusing on improving their front-court — finished last season 48-34, fourth in the Western Conference. They lost to the Utah Jazz in six games in the first round of the playoffs.
In other free agency news, 27-year-old former Pelicans star DeMarcus Cousins signed a one-year, $5.3 million deal with the two-time defending champion Golden State Warriors late Monday.
Stephen Curry congratulated Cousins for joining his squad in a tweet not long after the news surfaced:
Chicago Bears legend and former fullback Matt Suhey passed away this weekend. Suhey was part…
Heading into head coach Dan Lanning’s fourth season, the Oregon Ducks were expected to be…
The Dallas Cowboys have waived quarterback Joe Milton III, as the team announced Sam Howell…
Indianapolis Colts receiver Keenan Allen was arrested after being suspected of driving under the influence.…
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers cut Veteran quarterback Jake Browning months after signing him to a…
Arch Manning, coming off what some would call a disappointing year, has started strong as…