Nerlens Noel Trade Rumors: Latest News, Speculation Surrounding 76ers Center
Published by Scott Polacek on November 4, 2016
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears
The Philadelphia 76ers are still in rebuilding mode as they look to establish a long-term winner, and Marc Stein of ESPN.com described big man Nerlens Noel as being “very available” in trades.
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Raptors Interested in Noel
Friday, Nov. 4
Stein noted the Toronto Raptors “are among the teams” that have interest in the Kentucky product, although Stein acknowledged they would prefer to use their young players such as Pascal Siakam and Jakob Poeltl to fill in for the injured Jared Sullinger.
RealGM.com reported Sullinger is out indefinitely and pointed out the Raptors also lost Bismack Biyombo to free agency during the offseason.
Philadelphia has a logjam of young players in the frontcourt without even factoring Noel into the discussion. What’s more, he will be a restricted free agent in 2017, and it could get something back for him in a trade before he potentially leaves.
Joel Embiid (No. 3 overall pick in 2014) has played just three games this season after missing the last two years with injuries, but he looks to be a building block, averaging 17.3 points and 6.3 rebounds per night. Philly also has Jahlil Okafor (No. 3 overall pick in 2015) and the versatile Ben Simmons (No. 1 overall pick this year) as young pieces.
Noel’s trade value likely suffers from injury concerns since he hasn’t played this season after undergoing minor knee surgery in October. He missed his rookie season after knee surgery as well.
Still, he is only 22 years old and a double-double candidate whenever he steps on the floor. He averaged 9.9 points and 8.1 rebounds per night in 2014-15 and 11.1 points and 8.1 rebounds last season.
He is most valuable on the defensive side of the ball, averaging 1.7 blocks per game in his career. According to NBA.com, opponents shot 7.8 percent worse than their normal averages from within six feet last season when Noel defended them.
If the 76ers can get additional draft picks or young, talented guards for their defense, they may pull the trigger on a trade and clear some of the crowding in the frontcourt.
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