Chicago Bulls should make a play for restricted free agent Nerlens Noel
Restricted free agent Nerlens Noel an ideal target for the Chicago Bulls.
The Jimmy Butler trade clearly signaled it, the Chicago Bulls are in the middle of a rebuild. With that in mind, I don’t think anybody expected them to be major players in free agency this offseason. That being said, with cap space drying up throughout the league, the Bulls may be in a great position to grab a nice long-term asset.
The Dallas Mavericks traded for center Nerlens Noel prior to the NBA trade deadline last season. He finished the year strong with Dallas and entered this offseason as a restricted free agent. That means that other NBA teams can offer Noel a contract, but the Mavericks have the right to match any offer and bring him back into their mix.
It is widely expected around the league that the Mavericks will match any offer that Noel receives. However, that is far from guaranteed.
The Bulls have a restricted free agent of their own in Nikola Mirotic, and they seem likely to bring him back. That being said, instead of bringing back Mirotic, I think the Bulls should renounce his rights and make a big play for Noel.
NBA teams have not been spending as freely this offseason, but with the cap lower than expected, money is still tight around the league. If the Bulls move on from their own free agents, they would have nearly $27 million in cap space to work with, the most in the NBA.
Fantastic long-term fit
At 23-years-old, Noel fits the Bulls’ timeline extremely well. He has had some injuries issues in the past, but he is a talented player who has a lot of long-term upside.
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Noel is a long and athletic big man who is a big-time rim protector on the defensive end and a high-level rebounder. He also runs the court extremely well for a player of his size, showing the ability to score in transition.
Noel’s athleticism also allows him to be a real weapon in the pick-and-roll game. He does not have an outside shot, but the rest of Noel’s game is extremely promising. With incredible defensive versatility and overall ability, Noel fits the modern NBA game extremely well. He would also be a perfect complement to first-round rookie Lauri Markkanen. Barring injuries, the Bulls could stick Noel at the five for many years as another asset to build around in this rebuild.
Why not try?
Getting Noel will not be easy. Dallas has the room to match any offer sent his way. However, what does it hurt to make the play? The Bulls have the cap space to work with and Noel can be a real difference maker for this team. Plus, adding him to the mix would allow them to aggressively find a way to part ways with Robin Lopez and his large cap number.
The Chicago Bulls should send Noel an RFA offer of four years at about $20-$22 million per season. That is slightly under his max number but is a good price that most other teams will not be able to compete with. Dallas is more likely than not to match it, but crazier things have happened before.
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All I know is that Noel would be a great fit for the Bulls and they should make a strong offer to try to get him in the mix. Adding him to the core with Zach LaVine, Markkanen and Kris Dunn would give the Bulls a much better future to look forward to. Right now, it is all about grabbing assets for the Bulls, and Noel is undoubtedly a valuable asset.