Nets Signing Center Nerlens Noel After Pistons Buyout, per Report

The veteran big man played in 14 games for Detroit this season.

Bidding to keep their heads above water in a tight Eastern Conference playoff race, the Nets appear to be adding valuable depth for the stretch run.

Brooklyn is signing journeyman center Nerlens Noel, according to a Saturday morning report from ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. Noel joins Brooklyn with 19 games left to play in its season and the Nets in sixth place, two games behind the fifth-place Knicks in the East.

Noel played in 14 games this season with the Pistons, starting three and averaging 2.3 points per game in 10.9 minutes per game. Detroit waived the 28-year-old on Feb. 27.

In a lengthy, well-traveled NBA career, Noel has had stints with the 76ers, Mavericks, Thunder, New York and the Pistons. He has played more than 70 games in a season on just two occasions.

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Free agent center Nerlens Noel is signing a deal with the Brooklyn Nets, his agent @GeorgeLangberg tells ESPN. After completing buyout with Pistons, Noel joins a Nets team needing some size off the bench.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 4, 2023

Noel was originally drafted No. 6 overall in 2013 by the Hornets, who almost immediately traded his rights to Philadelphia for guard Jrue Holiday. He missed the 2014 season rehabbing a torn ACL but returned to garner All-Rookie honors in 2015.