Nerlens Noel of the New York Knicks sues Rich Paul, Klutch Sports; claims a loss of $ 58 million in potential salary

New York Knicks Center Nerlens Noel on Monday sued former agent Rich Paul and his firm Klutch Sports, claiming he lost a $ 58 million potential salary when Paul represented him between 2017 and 2020.

Noel took action after Klutch recently filed a complaint with the National Basketball Players Association alleging that Noel had not paid $ 200,000 in commissions from his previous year’s contract with the Knicks, several sources told ESPN.

Noel alleges breach of duty of trust, breach of contract and negligence. The lawsuit does not mention any specific damage, but requires actual and punitive compensation.

Paul declined to comment.

The lawsuit, which was filed in Dallas County, Texas, focuses on a decision made in July 2017 when Noel was a limited free agent for the Dallas Mavericks. Noel averaged 8.5 points and 6.8 rebounds in 22 games with the Mavericks when he was traded there midway through the Philadelphia 76ers the previous season.

When the vacant office began in 2017, Noel was represented by Agent Happy Walters. Noel claims at trial that the Mavericks offered him a four-year, $ 70 million deal, which several media outlets reported in the summer. During the free agent process, Noel said he fired Walters and hired Paul when they met at Ben Simmons ’birthday party in Los Angeles.

Paul represents numerous NBA stars, including Simmons and LeBron James.

At the trial, Noel said Paul advised him to forward a $ 70 million offer and accept a one-year contract so he could be an unlimited free agent the following year when Paul said he could make a more lucrative deal for Noel. Noel eventually rejected the contract and signed a $ 4.1 million one-year bid.

The following season, Noel broke his thumb and left 42 games as his numbers dropped. He didn’t re-sign with Dallas and played the next two seasons in the Oklahoma City Thunder, leaving the league with at least $ 3.7 million in backup. He then played for the Knicks last season and made $ 5 million. Noel remained with Paul in all four contracts.

At the trial, Noel claims that Klutch did not prioritize him when he was a free agent, did not respond to teams that wanted to sign him as a free agent, and failed to implement a multi-year contract with Thunder that he was told he was at work. Noel resigned from Paul last season when he signed a contract with the Knicks.

After starting 41 games at the Knicks and playing strong defense, finishing third in the NBA averaging 2.2 blocks per game, Noel signed a three-year deal with the Knicks this month, guaranteeing him $ 27.7 million and $ 4.1 million in potential incentives. The deal was negotiated by Agent George Langberg.