Dallas Mavericks: Nerlens Noel provides early Christmas

Nerlens Noel is nothing short of a Christmas Miracle for the Dallas Mavericks. Even if that miracle comes at the end of February.

Since the departure of big man Tyson Chandler, the Dallas Mavericks have yet to find a stable center they can like rely on. Names like Chris Kaman, Zaza Pachulia and now Andrew Bogut all took the reigns of the position, but each one proved to be a one-and-done player.

Newcomer Nerlens Noel promises a much brighter future than a one year stunt.

At 22 years old, Noel not only gives the Mavs the rim presence they need for a playoff run, but he also gives them a force they can lean on for years to come. The former 76ers big man came into the NBA three seasons ago after being drafted in the first round by the New Orleans Pelicans.

Noel provides tons of hope for a city that has been dying to get over the departure of former Mav Tyson Chandler. With the organization unsure of what direction they are going, the up and coming big man gives Dallas a glimpse into the future with life after Dirk Nowitzki.

The young center brings plenty of energy for the Mavericks, as they try to look into the future of the organization. Recently the team has brought in a handful of young athletes to help their building process.

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Players like Harrison Barnes, who is 24 years old, and newcomer Yogi Ferrell, who is 23 years old, all bring a new age to Dallas. The team’s average age is now 27 and if one were to wonder the last time Dallas had a group of youngsters this promising, you’d have to look back to the Michael Finley, Steve Nash, and Dirk days.

Noel’s youth plays a big part into the vision of the organization, as there is plenty of time for the center to grow and develop as the leader of the franchise.

Another reason for aspiration is Noel’s ability to score inside the paint. With Andrew Bogut on the court this season, the Mavs struggled to score down low.

Currently, the 22-year old is averaging 8.9 points per game with five rebounds a game as well. In comparison, Bogut saw a huge drop in his numbers this season as the former Mav was averaging three points a game to go with eight rebounds.

Noel will give the Mavericks plenty of chances to score inside and out. Over the past three games the former 76er saw an increase in his points per game with games of 16, 12 and 19 points.

The newest Mav saw an increase in points when playing more than 25 minutes per game. If Noel can continue his dominance on the glass, he will give Dallas a new weapon of being able to score inside the paint.

One main concern Dallas may have about Noel is his history of injuries. During his first season in the NBA, the starting center missed all of the 2014-2015 season after overcoming a knee surgery he had that summer. While he did overcome the surgery, the newest Mav is no stranger to injuries as just this season he missed the beginning part of year with an inflamed pica right on top of his knee.

While Noel’s injuries may be of concern for Maverick’s fans, the same problem appeared when the Dallas Mavericks brought in Tyson Chandler. All of Dallas knows how that turned out.

Next: Mavericks Recent Addition, Nerlens Noel, Offers Tremendous Hope for the Future

Nerlens Noel has plenty of opportunity to grow with the Dallas Mavericks and if their cards turn out right, the team may snatched one of the top centers in the league.

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