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Pistons center Nerlens Noel, his former agent Rich Paul and Klutch Sports Group settled Noel’s legal case, the two parties announced Wednesday. Here’s what you need to know:
- Noel sued Paul and his agent in the summer of 2021, hoping to recover some of the money he claims he lost due to contract losses during his career, he said, due to the agent’s lack of proper representation.
- In an October 2021 motion to dismiss the case, Paul said Noel owed him revenue (4 percent) from negotiating a one-year, $5 million contract with the Knicks for the 2020-21 season.
- Last September, a Dallas District Court judge threw out the case, sending it to the National Basketball Players Association’s arbitration system. As part of the settlement, Noel will pay Paul his entire commission on the Knicks deal and withdraw all legal action.
Nerlens Noel, Rich Paul and Klutch Sports Group settle Noel’s legal case – Noel paid all commissions owed to Klutch Sports in $5 million 2020 Knicks deal, Noel withdrew all legal action. Statement: pic.twitter.com/isMq0L3rTU
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 11, 2023
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In the lawsuit, Noel alleges that when the players were represented by Paul, Paul “did virtually no work” to secure contracts, pitching teams and land endorsement deals on Noel’s behalf.
Noel’s attorneys also argued that after the 2016-17 season, the center lost a four-year, $70 million contract with the Mavericks on Paul’s recommendation, “and instead, he was forced to sign A series of qualifying offers and league minimum contracts well below the true value of Noel’s services in the NBA market.”
After rejecting the initial deal in 2017, Noel signed a shorter, smaller deal to return to Dallas, then signed follow-up short-term contracts with Oklahoma City in 2018 and New York City in 2020. In 2021, he signed a three-year, $27.77 million deal with the Dallas Knicks before being traded to the Pistons in the summer of 2022.
In dismissing the case, Judge Jane J. Boyle wrote in her order: “In conclusion, the court has determined that a valid, enforceable arbitration agreement existed between the parties.”
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(Photo: Benny Sieu/USA TODAY)
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