The next home of Nerlens Noel may find him alongside another Kentucky Wildcats behemoth with recent NBA trade rumors.
The Minnesota Timberwolves are looking for "frontcourt help" and Tom Thibodeau can pull the trigger to make his coaching job easier. According to ESPN writer Brian Windhorst, the former Bulls coach has a specific type of player.
Quoting from a podcast, Windhorst said "the Wolves are calling around looking to trade for frontcourt help." The primary reason is that Thibs is accustomed to having a deep frontcourt rotation.
With the Bulls, he had Joakim Noah, Taj Gibson and Pau Gasol as three reliable frontcourt pieces. The article stated that "the coach hasn't had that luxury in his first year with the Timberwolves. Towns is a budding star and Dieng is averaging 10.6 points, 7.9 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game, but there's no one as productive coming off the bench."
They must trade guards or wingmen for solid frontcourt contribution. The obvious target is Philadelphia, with Nerlens Noel not even playing for the Sixers despite being cleared from injury.
Noel would fit the mold of a Tom Thibodeau big man with his defense first mentality. The ability of Karl Anthony Towns to play power forward (as opposed to Jahlil Okafor who virtually plants himself on the paint) gives their Timberwolves fans more reason to be optimistic.
But who would the Timberwolves send in return? The Sixers could still use guards and wing scoring, something that the Minnesota can offer as Basketball Insiders' Steve Kyler stated the pieces that they are willing to trade.
"Thibs is not trading either Towns or Lavine... The guys he (and Scott Layden) would consider trading are Rubio, Mohammed, Deng (sic), Pekovic and Payne."
The Sixers would most likely ask for Rubio and Mohammed but then the Timberwolves would ask for more value in return. Rubio is a veteran and a very capable starting point guard.
The Sixers may have to sweeten the deal with a draft pick-possibly the Lakers pick. If the Lakers eventually return to their early winning form (they are on a losing streak now, though), the pick will lose value and the Sixers may be willing to let it go for a chance to improve now.