Knicks sign Nerlens Noel to one-year, $5M contract

Free-agent big man Nerlens Noel has agreed to sign a one-year contract with the Knicks, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, who hears from Noel’s agents at Klutch Sports that it’ll be worth $5M.

A lottery pick in 2013, Noel is now with his fourth organization. He has served as a backup to Steven Adams in Oklahoma City for the past two years and averaged 7.4 points and 4.9 rebounds per game last season.

Noel, 26, is a former star at Kentucky and credits Knicks assistant Kenny Payne with helping him develop his game, per Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News. Payne left the Wildcats in August to join Tom Thibodeau’s new staff.