Nerlens Noel and Jahlil Okafor (Photo : Getty Images)
The NBA trade rumors still have the center duo of the Philadelphia 76ers, Nerlens Noel and Jahlil Okafor as they have yet to find a home. Will one of them find quick success through the San Antonio Spurs?
While it seems unlikely that a team like the Spurs would trade with the lowly Sixers, Tim Duncan's retirement poses a big question mark for the team. The Spurs got Pau Gasol but he's only on board for two years at most.
Thus, the idea of acquiring a young center is not so farfetched for Popovich's crew and recently, buzz about Nerlens Noel going to Texas have been swirling. Lucas Johnson of Fansided team blog The Sixer Sense had the proposal.
Johnson believes that Noel can actually be a similar (not necessarily equal) player to David Robinson. The current crew of David Lee, Pau Gasol and Matt Bonner are not exactly long-term solutions.
"Noel's defensive stats are eerily similar to the Admiral himself, David Robinson. If Noel can increase his rebounds and blocks he could be the defensive force the Admiral was during his time. Noel could very well be the next phase of the big man dynasty for the Spurs."
That may be a bit of a stretch but the Spurs continued excellence will deprive them of a chance to grab a franchise big man through the draft. They do have LaMarcus Aldridge as their offensive anchor, but they need a defensive man to complement him.
But Air Alamo, the Spurs team blog for Fansided actually contended that Jahlil Okafor could be a target. While this was pre-Pau Gasol acquisition, Gasol's short term status means the Spurs need to continue their search for the big man of the future.
The argument here is that it's easier down the road to find a defense only big man than someone like Okafor, whose post moves are reminiscent of Tim Duncan himself.
Still, if the Spurs are looking for immediate help (and they probably are) Noel might be the better fit, not to mention probably the cheaper one to trade for.
Johnson proposed Kyle Anderson and a protected pick (it's the Spurs, they'll definitely protect it) for Noel while Ian Smith of the Alamo named Danny Green and Patty Mills as possible pieces for Okafor.
Will San Antonio propose this trade? Perhaps the answer lies later in the season.
