Nerlens Noel (Photo : Getty Images)
Ben Simmons' injury may not only impact the Philadelphia 76ers' winning ways this coming season, but also affect the team's attempt to unload one of their frontcourt pieces.
The Philadelphia 76ers are facing an unfortunate situation after Ben Simmons fractured his right foot, which may be too familiar for a franchise who has experienced the frustration of losing its No. 1 pick to injury even before the regular season begins.
Simmons, the first overall pick in this year's NBA draft, rolled an ankle during Philly's final training-camp scrimmage on Friday, and an MRI revealed a fractured fifth metatarsal bone, which may require surgery, according to ESPN medical analyst Dr. Mark Adickes.
Simmons' absence would greatly impact any of the 76ers' hopes to become a winning team in the 2016-2017 season. Simmons has an incredible overall game that would surely make the 76ers fun to watch. At 6-foot-10, the Aussie phenom, who played one season at LSU, can run the point, find open teammates and finish at the rim effectively, which are all tools for him to become a perennial All-Star.
It remains to be seen how long Simmons would be sidelined, but it could be time for the 76ers to make adjustment, and that means deciding on whether to continue their attempt to unload Nerlens Noel, who has recently expressed concerns over Philadelphia's frontcourt logjam.
"I feel like it definitely needs to be figured out," Noel said, reports the Philadelphia Inquirer. "I think at the end of the day, again, you have three starting-caliber centers. And it's just not going to work to anybody's advantage having that on the same team. That's how I'm looking at it. I'm not opposed to anything, but things need to be situated."
There have been plenty of speculations about the 76ers trading one of their big men to address a crowded frontcourt. While the 76ers have yet to confirm such move, Noel has been tipped by many as the likely trade candidate.
However, Simmons' latest injury could force the 76ers to keep their core of young big men intact for a while, also keeping hold of Noel in their fold. With Simmons' out of the team's rotation, Joel Embiid and Okafor could take turns playing at the five spot, while Noel should fit in playing the power forward position with Dario Saric.
Sixers coach Brett Brown has assured he plans on coaching Noel and the rest of the team's young big men, barring any ideas of trading the 22-year-old center. But while there is still a possibility the 76ers explore deals for Noel, it would be wise for Philadelphia to keep him as assurance for any potential injury.
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