Nerlens Noel (Photo : Getty Images)
The Philadelphia 76ers still has no luck in getting the right trade for any of their two centers, Nerlens Noel and Jahlil Okafor.
The right balance of need and assets just can't be found. The teams with a need for center have dwindled and those that actually need one lack the assets that the Sixers want in return.
The Minnesota Timberwolves is a team that was once linked to Nerlens Noel as SB Nation team blog Canis Hoopus noted. The Sixers were looking for a top six draft pick with Kris Dunn or Jamal Murray in mind. That never materialized and now that Dunn is with the Timberwolves, they are not inclined to trade him especially after the buzz he generated in his fleeting Summer League experience.
Still, the takeaway is that the Timberwolves are interested in Noel or at least they are open to a Towns-Noel frontline. Towns is being developed into a versatile big man and possibly shift to more of a power forward role rather than being confined to the low block. Meanwhile, Noel is an athletic, defensive big man whom Thibodeau can develop.
The easy connection was to have a Nerlens Noel-Ricky Rubio swap which was picked up by different sources, even Adrian Wojnarowski thought Rubio was on the go and he is still probably on the block..
Minnesota has been shopping Ricky Rubio throughout the week. His future in Minnesota is likely coming to an end.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) June 24, 2016
However, the Sixers have declared that they are "set at point guard" or at least, the kind of point guard Rubio is (pass-first, poor shooting). They just drafted Ben Simmons and it seems like the Sixers want him to run the play as a point forward.
What the Sixers need is a guard who can score. A three-way trade which could involve the Phoenix Suns could address the needs of all three teams. Brandon Knight is a point guard but he is also a scorer who averaged 19 points and five assists last season. He is what the Sixers want.
The scenario would be Brandon Knight to the Sixers, Noel to the Timberwolves and Ricky Rubio to the Suns.
For the Suns, they could send Rubio back as a better passer alongside scoring guards Eric Bledsoe and their rising star Devin Booker.
Then Thibs will get his defensive big man. He may have to get rid of Nikola Pekovic as they now have the logjam at center and have Towns to focus as a power forward.
Some picks may have to change hands in this hypothetical trade, but it will probably be second rounders just to balance the trade value and salary.
