David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
The New York Knicks have had exploratory discussions on trading center Nerlens Noel to the Los Angeles Clippers, league sources told HoopsHype. Noel could fit into the Clippers’ $9.7 million trade exception previously generated by the Serge Ibaka trade. The Knicks have a surplus of draft pick compensation (22 picks total over the next seven years) to dangle.
According to our HoopsHype salary cap expert, Yossi Gozlan, if the Knicks can trade Noel without taking any salary back in a deal, New York could generate a total of $24.5 million in cap space. That figure would help the Knicks make an aggressive run at Jalen Brunson in free agency. The $24.5 million would include waiving Taj Gibson, as previously reported on the last HoopsHype intel report, and keeping Mitchell Robinson’s cap hold so they can re-sign him.
If the Clippers acquire Noel, it could mean Clippers backup center Isaiah Hartenstein may have priced himself out of Los Angeles with unrestricted free agency approaching. The Clippers can only re-sign Hartenstein for up to the $6.4 million taxpayer mid-level exception. That exception, however, could be used to sign John Wall.
Noel is owed $9.24 million next season and has a $9.68 million team option for the 2023-24 season.
