2 Centers the Kings must look at on the buyout market

Kings’ buyout target #1: Nerlens Noel

Here we are again, Nerlens Noel is likely going to be on the market. Seems like an annual process that some players go through. The Kings have been linked to Noel recently, but the contract situation he’s currently in with Detroit made it tough to trade for him outright.

Noel has bounced around the league quite a bit since being drafted 6th overall in 2013. He didn’t play a game his rookie year but turned himself into a pretty nice defensive big during his tenure in Philadelphia. He was a monster interior presence in his 2nd season, averaging just a few ticks under two blocks per game and two steals per game.

He’s been limited to just 13 games played so far this year, as he’s competing with two younger centers in Jalen Duran and Isaiah Stewart. It’s understandable due to the fact Detroit is rebuilding and looking to develop its draft picks. He’s almost certainly on his way to the buyout market.

https://twitter.com/jack_kelly_313/status/1613528850666848257?s=20&t=hj5pOe-TGsmx9lx_JeHIRw

Even when you look at his injury-riddled past, signing Noel would solve a huge need on the current roster. In the tweet I linked above you can see he still has a knack for blocking shots, something he’s been known for during his entire career.

This team desperately needs a rim protector, and Noel is everything you want in one. He’s just currently in a bad situation. He’d be a perfect fit for the bench if they could somehow pry him from one of the other contenders also looking for a big man. This is the best-case scenario in my opinion.