DALLAS _ A nightmarish season for Nerlens Noel ended Tuesday with news that the NBA has handed down a five-game suspension for violation of the league's anti-drug program.
Since there are five games left in the season, the suspension means Noel's season _ and possibly his time with the Mavericks _ is done.
The 6-11 center will be an unrestricted free agent on July 1. With the Mavericks probably targeting a big man in the draft and with Dwight Powell's improved play this season, Noel fitting into the team's future plans is questionable at best.
Noel's season began with a protracted contract dispute that resulted in him changing agents, allegedly turning down a contract worth $17 million per season for four years and eventually signing a one-year qualifying offer for $4.188 million.
Then came thumb surgery to repair a torn ligament, which sidelined him for three months. After knocking off the rust, Noel had played with a more engaged attitude and had averaged 8.6 rebounds in 21.5 minutes over the last 10 games.
While Noel was recovering from the surgery, there also was the famed "hot dog incident," in which he came into the media work area and picked up a hot dog during halftime of a game for which he was on the active roster.
The Mavericks traded for Noel in the 2016-17 season in exchange for a package highlighted by Justin Anderson with hopes that he would become their center of the future. The slender Noel never reached that potential.
