Nerlens Noel (Photo : Getty Images)
Nerlens Noel remains a likely trade candidate for the Philadelphia 76ers, and the Chicago Bulls could be among the teams interested in acquiring the disgruntled center.
Noel is still the topic of several trade talks, with the 76ers still crowded at the frontcourt. While the 76ers have yet to indicate any signs of ultimately trading Noel before the deadline, ESPN's Marc Stein reported that Noel prefers to play for another team.
"Noel has yet to appear in a game this season after electing to undergo arthroscopic knee surgery last month, but word is he'd still prefer to be shipped to a new address with so many big men to battle for playing time in Philly. Count on the Sixers to accommodate him eventually," Stein wrote.
There is a high demand in the league of a defensive big man like Noel, who could anchor a team's interior defense effectively when in full health. Several teams like the Boston Celtics and Toronto Raptors, who are in need of a rim-protector, have been rumored to have expressed interest in Noel, but the Chicago Bulls could be a more intriguing destination for the 22-year-old center.
The Bulls are still far from being legit contenders, despite finding their winning ways early in the season. Part of the Bulls' inconsistency is their second unit, who are fifth-worst in the league in bench scoring, averaging only 29.2 points a game.
Nikola Mirotic, who is coming off the bench for the Bulls, is also struggling to put up numbers, posting career-lows of 9.0 points a game on 37.4 percent shooting from the field. With Mirotic failing to fit in his role in the second unit, Forbes writer Brian Mazique believes trading him for Noel could work out for Chicago and Philadelphia.
"Mirotic has too much value as a trade asset to allow that to happen. Noel doesn't want to be in Philly, so even if it matches an offer sheet, his stay could be shortlived. Both teams have a dilemma and perhaps the other's solution," Mazique wrote.
Noel and Mirotic are both set to become restricted free agents next summer, and keeping them around makes little sense if the 76ers and Bulls do not see them as long-term assets. Noel would give Chicago a young center with a high upside of becoming an elite defender, while Mirotic addresses Philadelphia's lack of outside threats.
Noel's availability should put teams on alert of potentially acquiring a key cog on the defensive end. While it is unclear whether the Bulls have intentions of trading for Noel, the team has the best trade chip in Mirotic to make a deal work.
