“Several Contending Teams” Interested In Pistons Center

The Detroit Pistons are wallowing around near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings (or near the top of the Victor Wembanyama Tank-a-thon, depends on how you look at it), so trading off veterans is something they'll be looking at doing throughout the season. 

Dallas Mavericks and Detroit Pistons touched base recently on trade talks in which Nerlens Noel’s name came up, per @IanBegley pic.twitter.com/cqJZEAYvWE

— NBACentral (@TheNBACentral) December 8, 2022

According to a report from Ian Begley of SNY, center Nerlens Noel "has drawn interest from several contending teams who have struggled with rim protection." Noel, as noted by Begley, played a key defensive role on the resurgent Knicks team in 2021 that went to the playoffs.

Of possible trade partners for the Pistons, Begley points to the Dallas Mavericks, who have engaged in trade talks recently with Detroit, and Noel's name was involved.

Noel, 28,  arrived in the Motor City just before the NBA Draft his past June, in a trade to clear cap space for the Knicks. 

The 6'11" center has played extremely sparingly for the Pistons this season, appearing in only six games, and averaging just 10 minutes in each of those. The team is going with Isaiah Stewart, Marvin Bagley III and Jalen Duren for the bulk of its big man minutes, and would likely have no problem parting with the little-used Noel.

Photo: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports