3 reasons why Nerlens Noel will leave the Oklahoma City Thunder this summer

#1 Chasing a bigger salary

Nerlens Noel is currently signed to a minimum contract

In an NBA flooded with hugely overpriced contracts, Noel's deal stands out as a rarity. The center is currently signed to a minimum salary, which is an absolute steal when considering the impact that Noel provides.

Yet, Noel is known to be looking to sign a much larger deal, and back in 2017, the then 23-year-old turned down a $70 million extension from the Dallas Mavericks in order to test his value the following year. Noel's plans didn't turn out well, as he ended up signing his current minimum deal with the Thunder, however, Noel is likely to try again this summer.

While Noel is unlikely to get offered anywhere near the $70m from two years ago, it's reasonable to suggest that a team will offer Noel much better terms than what he currently earns with the Thunder.