The Kings are bringing in another veteran center to bolster a position where they lacked depth during last season’s run to the playoffs.
A league source told The Sacramento Bee on Tuesday the Kings are signing veteran center Nerlens Noel. The two sides have agreed to a one-year, $3.1 million contract, Noel’s agent, George Langberg of GSL Sports Group, told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Noel, 29, is a nine-year NBA veteran who is known as a rim protector and shot blocker. The 6-foot-11, 220-pound center came out of Kentucky as the No. 6 pick in the 2013 NBA draft after winning Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Year.
Noel has averaged 7.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 1.3 steals over nine NBA seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers, Dallas Mavericks, Oklahoma City Thunder, New York Knicks, Detroit Pistons and Brooklyn Nets. He was an NBA All-Rookie First Team selection in 2014-15 and averaged career highs of 11.1 points and 8.1 rebounds for the 76ers in 2015-16.
Noel appeared in a total of 42 games over the past two seasons with the Knicks, Pistons and Nets. He appeared in 64 games with 41 starts for the Knicks in 2020-21, when he posted averages of 5.1 points, 6.4 rebounds and a career-high 2.2 blocked shots.
Noel will serve as a backup to All-NBA center Domantas Sabonis in Sacramento. The Kings also have veteran center Alex Len and Trey Lyles, a forward who was often used as a small-ball center last season. Neemias Queta is a restricted free agent after two years with the Kings on two-way contract.
