It could only be a matter of time before the Philadelphia 76ers move Nerlens Noel, who has been removed by head coach Brett Brown from the team's frontcourt rotation.
The 76ers are likely to move Noel before the February 2017 trade deadline. But while it would behoove the team to address their crowded frontcourt and unload the disgruntled big man, there may not be too many options for the 76ers, according to Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders.
"While there is some urgency to getting the public dispute resolved, there is not a sense that a trade is close," Kyler wrote.
"Noel is a pending free agent, so that complicates a deal value; then, factor in that opposing teams know that the 76ers need to make a deal and it's easy to see why the team may be having a hard time extracting real value when one team is a motivated seller."
However, it is also worth noting that several 'teams are in demand of a defensive big man like Noel. Add in the fact that he is only 22 years old and has plenty of upside on the defensive end, Noel is arguably one of the most desirable trade targets in the market.
There is a growing sense contenders would attempt to trade for Noel before the deadline. Among the reported teams interested in adding Noel are the Portland Trail Blazers and Toronto Raptors.
In the same report, Kyler included the Blazers and Raptors as those who are intrigued by dealing for Noel, although any potential trade may not include some of both team's core players.
"It is unlikely that the Raptors mess with their team chemistry in moving a core player, but if the 76ers want some of the Raptors' young players or non-core parts, Toronto would have interest in Noel, according to sources close to the situation. It's also believed the Portland Trail Blazers have eyes on Noel, but they may be unwilling to give up much in a deal," Kyler noted.
The Blazers are considered as contenders in the West, but the team has failed to win games over top teams in the league. One of the contributing factors for Portland's inconsistency is the lack of inside scoring to help open up the offense for outside shooters.
Noel isn't exactly a scorer, although he can finish at the rim and could help on second chance points. Nevertheless, adding Noel would not help the Blazers improve their chances of competing well in the postseason.
On the other hand, the Raptors could be a more fitting destination for Noel. Since losing Bismack Biyombo in free agency, Toronto has been looking for a defensive big man who could shore up its interior defense. With plenty of scorers in the team, Noel could focus on what he does best: shot-blocking and rebounding.
It remains to be seen where Noel could land or whether the 76ers would still attempt to trade him before the deadline. But if Philly would really consider moving Noel, the Raptors could take their chances at the right price.
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