Noel back in NY as Nets reserve
The Nets finally are adding a backup big man.
They will sign 6-foot-10 Nerlens Noel to back up starting center Nic Claxton.
Noel averaged 2.3 points and 2.6 rebounds in 14 games for the Pistons before getting waived and bought out this week.
The move to add some size — which league personnel have long considered a weak spot for the team — was first reported by ESPN, and confirmed by The Post.
The 28-year-old Noel, a former Knick, will join the Nets on a 10-day contract, per ESPN. They can only sign him to two consecutive 10-days before having to make a decision whether to keep him or let him go.
The Nets have 19 games left on the regular-season schedule and an open roster spot after they traded Kessler Edwards to Sacramento last month.
Noel, who has career averages of 7.2 points and 6.1 boards, is regarded as a capable defensive player. He could be a capable backup for Claxton, a role heretofore being filled by second-year pro Day’Ron Sharpe and oft-injured Ben Simmons.
The 21-year-old Sharpe is still raw, and has not played in three of the past five games. Simmons has missed 21 games this season and the past five straight while strengthening his sore knee, and now has back pain according to coach Jacque Vaughn.
It’s unclear when or even if Simmons will play again this season. Even if he does, he could be employed more as a backup point guard and playmaker now that stars Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant have been traded.
In the past few games, the Nets have had to use 6-7 power forward Dorian Finney-Smith and even on occasion 6-4 wing Royce O’Neale as small-ball fives. While it has been effective at times in small doses, it’s a dangerous way to live should Claxton get hurt.
Vaughn has acknowledged that Claxton is being worn down. The spindly youngster has already logged 1,727 minutes this season, nearly as many as he totaled in his first three seasons combined (1,755).
Noel played for the Knicks from 2020-22. The Nets will be his sixth team in a nine-year NBA career.
His last stint in New York was a tumultuous one, however. After signing a three-year $31 million deal with the Knicks in 2021, he played just 25 games in 2021-22 due to a string of maladies, including plantar fasciitis.
Knee and hamstring issues also plagued Noel, who had a lengthy bout with COVID-19.
There was also an ugly lawsuit against his former superagent Rich Paul and the time during his tenure with the Mavericks that he strolled into the press room at halftime of a game to snag a hot dog.
In July 2022, the Knicks traded Noel to Detroit.
➤ Mikal Bridges knocked knees with Derrick White after doing the same the game prior with Jalen Brunson. But he said he’ll be fine for the home game Monday against the Hornets.
➤ Nets general manager Sean Marks was at Temple on Thursday night to scout UCF freshman Taylor Hendricks, per ESPN. The 6-9, 210-pound power forward is projected 21st on the big boards of both NBADraft.net and Tankathon.