Former Sixer Nerlens Noel Sues Super Agent Rich Paul
This is truly a first. “Know your worth” is a popular phrase but what happens when your view of what your worth isnt what the market thinks? You get the case of Nerlens Noel. Lets start from the beginning.
Nerlens Noel came into the NBA with agent Happy Walters. Walters was Nerlens agent until Nerlens attended Ben Simmons’ birthday party out in Los Angeles and was seated next to super agent Rich Paul. Paul, who represents Ben Simmons, Lebron James, and Lonzo Ball among others, proceeded to wax poetic to Noel that he was a “$100 million dollar man.” The snake in the grass (my words, because I’ve never been a fan of Paul and I rarely get the opportunity to take shots.) stole Noel from Walters as a client. Its understandable because Paul starts making promises that unfortunately he was unable to keep.
Under the guidance of Paul, Noel turned down the Mavericks offer of 4 years for $70 million and signed a 1 year, $4 million dollar offer. Hoping that he could cash in as an unrestricted free agent. That didn’t happen after an injury riddled season, and Noel signed with the Thunder for the league minimum. He then resigned with the Thunder for the league minimum until finally getting a 1 year deal with the Knicks for $5 million. He recently signed a 3 year deal for $32 million with the Knicks, but thats a long way to go to finally getting paid (NBA paid, I think wed all trade paychecks with Noel) and a long way from $100 million. So Noel is suing for $58 million in lost wages.
Now on the surface this lawsuit seems frivolous. But it might hold some weight. After the botched self evaluations Noel learned that there were other teams (including the Sixers) who were interested in signing him but Paul wouldnt return the teams calls. Its understandable, he was probably trying to force one of his clients to California via a bad trade….I warned you I rarely have the opportunity to take shots. So Noel figures that the deals that were offered, and ignored by Paul, equate to $58 million over the course of his tenure with Klutch sports.
Best of luck to Nerlens!
