As the NBA season nears and more previews and predictions are released by experts, the NBA trade rumors seem clearer now.
The LA Lakers and Philadelphia 76ers are two teams who are the most involved in the rumor mill. Both teams have young pieces that are desirable to other teams. Also, they have very loyal and vocal fan bases who are impatiently awaiting improvement after multiple awful seasons (they have been worse than mediocre, to be honest).
All four young stars of the Lakers (D'Angelo Russell, Julius Randle, Brandon Ingram and Jordan Clarkson) have been involved in trade rumors. For the Sixers, the two centers on the block, Jahlil Okafor and Nerlens Noel have been linked to at least half a dozen teams.
Which of those players are most likely the trade bait of their teams? ESPN experts have given clues.
From an ESPN Insider piece on the future of the Lakers, Jeremias Engelmann shared his own thoughts.
"I'm anything but a fan of (Julius)Randle, who scored poorly in statistical draft models and now rates badly in various metrics since he entered the NBA (Real Plus-Minus: -4.3), so I'd try to trade to him to a team that still thinks highly of him."
Zach Lowe, probably the top sportswriter of ESPN now, thinks that Larry Nance, Jr, the Lakers main power forward sub (since Randle is penciled at the starting spot) might overtake his predecessor.
"If Nance hones his jumper, he may end up a better choice than Randle to start alongside L.A.'s ball-dominant guards," Lowe said.
In his same piece, Lowe said that Nerlens Noel is "probably" the one to go instead of Okafor for the Sixers.
What would be the best destinations for the Julius Randle and Nerlens Noel if they are to be traded?
Julius Randle's versatile skills (he has displayed above-average playmaking for a big man) could be used by teams with a logjam at center. These would be the Sacramento Kings and the Philadelphia 76ers themselves.
If Randle were traded for a defensive center, it would be better for the Lakers. The Lakers have a wealth of playmakers but a dearth of rim protectors. Randle for someone like Willie Cauley-Stein or Nerlens Noel himself is a good deal.
For Nerlens Noel, teams aspiring for a defensive rim protector have been targeting him. The Cleveland Cavaliers have a void in the middle, but if they're not trading Kevin Love, the trade piece is likely Iman Shumpert and the Sixers probably won't trade Noel for him straight up as of now.
The Lakers are another team as previously mentioned, but the Milwaukee Bucks is a team that wants to exchange their resident center Greg Monroe for a more defense-oriented type of "five." The Sixers will likely ask for wing scorers like Khris Middleton (injured) or Jabari Parker but it will take more than Noel to get one of those two.