It's almost a question of "when" instead of "if" that the Philadelphia 76ers will send out Nerlens Noel, an NBA trade rumor staple.
Joel Embiid has quickly emerged as the team's primary center and Noel has been adamant about not being part of the rotation.
Brett Brown, head coach of the 76ers had a discussion with Noel as quoted by Philly.
"I'm not able right now to lay out the perfect road map to everybody," Brown said. "But it was a great conversation. It was good to see him as we always do with our players and me with Nerlens. I've been with him a long time. It's very clear and candid what his role and what's going to happen. How are we going to try to make it work."
Noel had surgery last October and is about to return to the team. He won't start at center and not even at power forward with Dario Saric and eventually, 2016 first overall pick Ben Simmons. Reading between the lines of what Brown said, Noel may have lost his role in the team.
A talented young center whose game is anchored on the defensive end, Noel should not have a shortage of suitors. Plenty of teams have a need at that end of the floor. The Indiana Pacers and Los Angeles Lakers comprise just two of them.
Ellis is a ball-heavy scorer that doesn't quite fit on a team that has Paul George, but would be advisable on a roster like the Sixers which lacks scorers. The Pacers could use Noel at center alongside Myles Turner who could be a beast in the power forward position.
There are still quite a number of LA Lakers fans who are not convinced that Timofey Mozgov is the long-term solution at the starting center spot, which is why Hoops Habit writer Luke Duffy called a Lakers trade for Noel "the people's move."
However, his proposal to send Jordan Clarkson in exchange will be met with heavy criticism since the Filipino-American has been a crowd favorite. Also, with the Lakers having an unexpectedly good start, they might hold on to the current roster.
In contrast, the Washington Wizards are floundering and CSN Philly believes they will be buyers soon.
"If (center Ian) Mahinmi, who was signed to a four-year deal worth $64 million, doesn't stabilize the second unit that relies on Jason Smith and Andrew Nicholson playing out of position as undersized backup centers in spot minutes, then they'll have to execute another move via trade before the February deadline."
They could offer Otto Porter and draft picks to the Sixers, but Philly will most likely want something better.
Among the three options mentioned, the best scenario from the Sixers' standpoint would be the Lakers' Clarkson, but it's also the least likely to happen. The Wizards will call, but the best hypothetical trade for them at this point is that with the Pacers. Ellis is a veteran whose strengths are needed by a young team which lacks a capable scorer.