Cam Thomas minutes and Nerlens Noel minutes are usually not mutually unique.
It was a query head coach Jacque Vaughn answered after Brooklyn’s third straight victory on Tuesday evening in Houston. Thomas — the lightning rod scorer who has been Vaughn’s first participant off the bench within the video games that adopted the Feb. 9 NBA commerce deadline — sat on the bench whereas Noel performed an prolonged function as backup huge man in the future after signing a 10-day contract in Brooklyn.
“Yeah he [Cam] could easily play 30 minutes two nights from now. So, doesn’t change my ability to put him on the floor at any time of the game,” Vaughn mentioned postgame. “I believe tonight, I needed to see might Nerlens play in a basketball recreation and contribute and be capable to choose up what we’re doing as a bunch, alter pictures, see his quickness, see if he might defend the rim.
“So I needed to see that tonight, and he is on a 10-day, so I decided to use one of those 10 days pretty quickly to see what he was gonna give us. So tonight was the night.”
Noel, the veteran rim protector and former No. 6 total choose who performed in 14 video games for the Detroit Pistons earlier than changing into a free agent in February, performed 18 minutes off the bench in his first recreation in Brooklyn after signing a 10-day deal — an prolonged run Vaughn attributed partially to beginning middle Nic Claxton’s early foul hassle.
He completed with two factors, three rebounds and one steal on the evening and confirmed fast ft, energetic arms and a 6-11 body that may be useful for a Nets staff that has wanted to handle depth on the middle place all season.
“In the back of my mind, I wanted to see where he was at,” Vaughn mentioned. “Obviously didn’t play Cam Thomas tonight because of that. So didn’t want to go too far into the rotation. Really just supplemented Nerlens for Cam.”
Vaughn mentioned the addition of Noel offers extra choices for a Nets staff with one of many extra versatile defensive rosters in all of basketball. With Ben Simmons (left knee/again irritation) out for the reason that All-Star break, Vaughn used Dorian Finney-Smith because the backup middle.
“[We] kept Do-Do away from the five position tonight to see what that looks like,” he mentioned. “If we were still bigger, we could play Royce [O’Neale] with Do and another big at the same time. So, gave me a chance to look at some things while giving Nerlens some minutes.”
For what it’s price, Noel was already enthusiastic about his new staff’s defensive potential — and his match on the roster, even when it’s short-term.
Speaking to reporters in Houston after shootaround Tuesday morning, Noel expressed optimism when discussing his new alternative.
He additionally believes he’s the cherry on high for what has the makings to change into one of many NBA’s most formidable defenses.
“This is already a Top 10 defense I’m pretty sure, especially with what they have,” Noel mentioned on Tuesday. “So I’m going to put it over the top. And however coach sees fit into what position he wants to put me in, I’ll accept regardless.”
Noel’s function is easy: In order to earn a second 10-day contract and probably a spot on a playoff roster if the Nets retain their standing as a top-eight seed within the East, he should out-play second-year middle Day’Ron Sharpe, whose roller-coaster journey of a season has despatched Brooklyn trying to find different choices as his place.
Noel appeared in 14 video games for the Detroit Pistons this season and averaged 2.3 factors, 2.6 rebounds, 0.9 steals and 0.6 blocks in about 11 minutes of play per recreation. He has averaged not less than one steal and one block per recreation in a season six instances in his eight-year NBA profession.
Noel, who went to the then-New Orleans Pelicans with the sixth-overall choose within the 2013 NBA Draft and was subsequently moved in a draft-night deal, has among the defensive versatility that enables beginning middle Claxton to thrive in a switching protection.
Noel’s addition, nonetheless, is an indictment on Sharpe, who’s averaging slightly below 4 factors and 4 rebounds per recreation in 35 video games performed this season. Sharpe’s scoring and rebounding averages have each noticeably declined regardless of solely seeing his common enjoying time cut back by two minutes.
The second-year huge man didn’t play in opposition to the Rockets on Tuesday.
It’s additionally price noting Noel sued mega sports activities agent Rich Paul and Klutch Sports Group for advising him to reject a five-year, $70M contract supply from the Dallas Mavericks and take a one-year deal as a substitute. That determination shortly grew to become often known as one of many larger bag fumbles in current NBA historical past because the lofty payday he sought by no means materialized. Noel settled his authorized battle with Paul — who represents Simmons — in January and paid Klutch $200,000: their minimize from the $5M deal he signed with the Knicks.
Noel and Simmons have been on the 76ers roster collectively through the 2016-17 season, however Simmons missed the complete season on account of a foot damage, and Noel was traded to the Mavericks 29 video games into the season.
This is Noel’s second stint in New York after enjoying for the Knicks from 2020 via 2022. Asked what excited him about being again within the metropolis, the brand new Nets middle mentioned: “Energy! The energy. New York is passionate about what they bring, what they’re about. And I’ve known that, and I love it. Period.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com