Knicks center Nerlens Noel is suing an NBA super-agent over a free agency decision that he says cost him $58 million
- Nerlens Noel is suing Rich Paul over a free-agency decision that Noel says cost him $58 million.
- Noel alleges that Paul had him turn down a $70 million offer from the Mavs.
- After that, Noel signed a series of one-year contracts that amounted to far less money.
New York Knicks center Nerlens Noel filed a lawsuit against NBA agent Rich Paul and his agency Klutch Sports, alleging that Paul and Klutch cost him $58 million in free agency.
In the lawsuit, filed in Dallas County, Texas, Paul says that Noel advised him to turn down a four-year, $70 million contract from the Dallas Mavericks in 2017. It alleges that by failing to help Paul maximize his earnings, Noel engaged in a breach of fiduciary conduct, a breach of contract, and gross negligence.
Klutch Sports declined to comment on the lawsuit to Insider.
Paul and Klutch Sports represented Noel from 2017 to 2020. Paul is one of the most powerful agents in the NBA, representing star players like LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Ben Simmons, Trae Young, and Draymond Green.
Noel's lawsuit says Paul courted him at Simmons' birthday party in 2017, telling Noel he could be a "$100 million man." Noel says that convinced him to end his relationship with his agent at the time, Happy Walters.
According to the lawsuit, the Mavericks offered Noel a four-year, $70 million contract in 2017, when Noel was a restricted free agent. The lawsuit says Paul advised Noel to turn it down and instead accept the one-year, $4.1 million qualifying offer, which would allow Noel to become an unrestricted free agent the following summer, when Paul said he could get Noel a "max" deal.
But Noel tore a ligament in his hand during the 2017-18 season and missed 42 games. He averaged 4.4 points and 5.6 rebounds per game that season.
Then Noel signed a one-year, $5 million contract with the Knicks last season.
In the lawsuit, Noel alleges that teams such as the Philadelphia 76ers, LA Clippers, and Houston Rockets attempted to contact him in free agency in 2019 and 2020, but they didn't hear back from Paul. The lawsuit also claims Paul paid more attention to his "marquee" clients.
The lawsuit says Noel made approximately $12 million in salary for those three seasons, meaning he lost $58 million by turning down the Mavs' offer. The lawsuit does not ask for a specific amount in damages.
According to ESPN's Brian Windhorst, Klutch recently filed a grievance with the NBA players union, claiming Noel hadn't paid $200,000 in commission for his previous contract with the Knicks.
Noel and Klutch split in December 2020. Noel hired George Langberg of the GSL Sports Agency. He signed a three-year, $32 million deal with the Knicks this offseason.