Would you draft-day trade our pick (#7-11) for Nerlens Noel?

[Ilikesports17]

FYI his last 5 games:

12.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 3.6 blocks, 2 steals, 53% shooting, 71% shooting from the line, 33mpg

This is gonna sound cray-cray, but I think the 20 year old highly-touted rookie coming off major surgery is actually... improving. 

Let's see how he improves when the rest of his athleticism comes back... and he's surrounded by actual nba players... and he learns how to play basketball.

He still can't catch a basketball. He drops 2-3 passes and 3-4 rebounds a game. It's bizarre, maybe he needs to pretend it's a roll of toilet paper like "Hot Hands" from the Little Giants or something.

Look, Noel is an elite prospect.  SOme folks here are going to read into his stats as a rookie, but it's pretty clear that kid has a shot to be an all-defense center.  He's only 20 years old and already an impact player there.  He shouldn't be expected to have any idea what he's doing right now, but the tools are there.  He was widely believed to be the best prospect in his draft and fell because of his injury.

You build championships with big men.  Essentially every champion ever has an an above-average/all-star big on the team.  Defensive bigs can impact a team's success in a monumental way.  Look at ancient KG's defensive impact on the Celtics.  He was still the MVP of this team even in the twilight of his years.   Noel clearly has the potential to be impact defensive big.   That makes him HUGELY valuable.

That said, there's a chance he becomes available.  Not because of anything negative about Noel, but because Joel Embiid is considered to be an all-world superstar prospect and there's a chance they land Okafor in the draft.  If that happens, it wouldn't be shocking to see Noel as the odd man out.  It would still take a whole lot.  Our pick wouldn't be enough.

Agreed except I think our pick wouldn't be *nearly* enough even if PHL has a surplus of bigs. They'd have much better options than dealing with us.

Look at it this way. Suppose you're Milwaukee. You already have Parker, the prototypical scoring SF. Wouldn't you give up Giannis and another first for Noel? And wouldn't Philly be salivating at the prospect of an Embiid/Okafor/GA frontcourt? How could the Celtics possibly compete with that? Or suppose Minny offered their 2015 1st?

I mean, there are assets and there are assets. Hinkie's too smart to take three of our dimes for his quarter, when other teams can offer him quarter-for-quarter swaps. We should move on.

I don't think either of those teams do those deals. GA projects as a two way stud and he's 6'11 so he can certainly play the 4. The only teams looking at top 10 picks who need a center are the knick lakers and c's

The Knicks and lakers picks would be more valuable and himkie loves him some top 5 picks but I don't see nyk doing that trade. It could make sense for the lakers but philly already owns their pick if it's not top 5 and if it is the lakers might still not go for it because they may see someone in the  draft as having better two way potential.

I mean I can't really think of any teams with great assets who haven't already locked up a solid center.

[tazzmaniac]

FYI his last 5 games:

12.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 3.6 blocks, 2 steals, 53% shooting, 71% shooting from the line, 33mpg

This is gonna sound cray-cray, but I think the 20 year old highly-touted rookie coming off major surgery is actually... improving. 

Let's see how he improves when the rest of his athleticism comes back... and he's surrounded by actual nba players... and he learns how to play basketball.

He still can't catch a basketball. He drops 2-3 passes and 3-4 rebounds a game. It's bizarre, maybe he needs to pretend it's a roll of toilet paper like "Hot Hands" from the Little Giants or something.

Look, Noel is an elite prospect.  SOme folks here are going to read into his stats as a rookie, but it's pretty clear that kid has a shot to be an all-defense center.  He's only 20 years old and already an impact player there.  He shouldn't be expected to have any idea what he's doing right now, but the tools are there.  He was widely believed to be the best prospect in his draft and fell because of his injury.

You build championships with big men.  Essentially every champion ever has an an above-average/all-star big on the team.  Defensive bigs can impact a team's success in a monumental way.  Look at ancient KG's defensive impact on the Celtics.  He was still the MVP of this team even in the twilight of his years.   Noel clearly has the potential to be impact defensive big.   That makes him HUGELY valuable.

That said, there's a chance he becomes available.  Not because of anything negative about Noel, but because Joel Embiid is considered to be an all-world superstar prospect and there's a chance they land Okafor in the draft.  If that happens, it wouldn't be shocking to see Noel as the odd man out.  It would still take a whole lot.  Our pick wouldn't be enough.  Who exactly in the 7-11 range is going to impact the game on Noel's level?

You're preaching to the choir, I just find it bizarre his hands are that terrible. He's pretty good at passing, he's great at deflecting passes and blocking shots, and he is surprisingly not terrible at using a dribble or two on offense... He just literally cannot catch a basketball. It's just strange.

His hands looked fine in tonight's game.  I think part of the problem is that he's excitable and tries to make the play before he catches the ball.   

[TheOneTrueRobb]

Nerlens Noel - remind me, was he Kid, or Play?

[MBunge]

FYI his last 5 games:

12.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 3.6 blocks, 2 steals, 53% shooting, 71% shooting from the line, 33mpg

This is gonna sound cray-cray, but I think the 20 year old highly-touted rookie coming off major surgery is actually... improving. 

Let's see how he improves when the rest of his athleticism comes back... and he's surrounded by actual nba players... and he learns how to play basketball.

He still can't catch a basketball. He drops 2-3 passes and 3-4 rebounds a game. It's bizarre, maybe he needs to pretend it's a roll of toilet paper like "Hot Hands" from the Little Giants or something.

Look, Noel is an elite prospect. 

No, he's not.  And elite prospect would be Durant or LeBron or Davis or Wiggins or even Embiid.  Noel looks like he could become, given reasonable expectations for improvement, some version of Ben Wallace. 

Now, Wallace turned out to be a very useful player who was a very important part of a championship team.  But is a Ben Wallace going to LEAD you to a title?  Is a Ben Wallace going to be the BEST player on a legitimate title-contender?

Mike

[Evantime34]

Not sure how plugged in this guy is but he says that the sixers would trade any of their players including Embiid for a lottery pick.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/markheisler/2015/02/23/permanently-rebuilding-76ers-just-offered-anyone-on-their-team-for-more-no-1-picks/

[kozlodoev]

I'll trade any one pick we own for Nerlens Noel. Not going to happen, though.

[ddb]

I think many of you on here are overrating Nerlens Noel a bit.  I would be very reluctant to trade a pick 7-10 in exchange for him...I know that Noel was the bigtime prospect at Kentucky during 1 season, and I know he was better then WCS at the time....But as of today, I think WCS is the better long-term NBA prospect.  He's bigger, longer, equally as athletic and doesn't have the bum knee.

If Philly lands #1 and takes Okafor, then I'd inquire about Embiid.  I'd offer pick (7-11) + Sully or KO (whoever they wanted) and maybe even the Clippers pick as well. 

Embiid for Bos 2015 1st, Clips 2015 1st + KO or Sully for Embiid.  IF they wanted Young instead of one of our bigs then I would do that as well.

Embiid is going to be much better then Noel assuming these guys can stay healthy. 

If Philly instead wanted to keep both Embiid and Okafor and market Noel, then I would offer no more then Young/Clippers 1st for Noel. 

Based on current draft position projections, I'm pretty sure Philly ends up with #3 or #4 pick and targets whoever is available between Muiday and DRussell.  In this case they hang on to both Embiid and Noel.  This is the most likely scenario of what will ultimately happen

[slamtheking]

You build championships with big men.  Essentially every champion ever has an an above-average/all-star big on the team. 

no, most champions have.  not every champion.

revisit the Detroit Bad Boys and Chicago Bulls title teams.  the bigs were not an integral part of the teams.  BTW, I don't count Rodman as a big -- he's an insane SF-sized player that could defend and rebound at any position pretty much

[slamtheking]

Based on current draft position projections, I'm pretty sure Philly ends up with #3 or #4 pick and targets whoever is available between Muiday and DRussell.  In this case they hang on to both Embiid and Noel.  This is the most likely scenario of what will ultimately happen

This.  unless Philly wins the lottery, I don't think they get Okafor.  even though they've made yet another move to get worse, I don't see them getting to the worst record.  I really think the MCW trade was their plan to eventually get a much better PG prospect in Mudiay or Russell this draft

[LarBrd33]

You build championships with big men.  Essentially every champion ever has an an above-average/all-star big on the team. 

no, most champions have.  not every champion.

revisit the Detroit Bad Boys and Chicago Bulls title teams.  the bigs were not an integral part of the teams.  BTW, I don't count Rodman as a big -- he's an insane SF-sized player that could defend and rebound at any position pretty much

Your two examples... Bill lambeer was a 4 time Allstar

Bulls had Horace Grant who was an all-star. Dennis rodman wasn't a traditional big, but he was a dominant defensive PF and one of the greatest rebounders in history.  He filled the void.

Championships are won with dominant scorers and elite bigs

[MBunge]

I'll trade any one pick we own for Nerlens Noel. Not going to happen, though.

Totally agree with this.

Mike

[tazzmaniac]

Based on current draft position projections, I'm pretty sure Philly ends up with #3 or #4 pick and targets whoever is available between Muiday and DRussell.  In this case they hang on to both Embiid and Noel.  This is the most likely scenario of what will ultimately happen

This.  unless Philly wins the lottery, I don't think they get Okafor.  even though they've made yet another move to get worse, I don't see them getting to the worst record.  I really think the MCW trade was their plan to eventually get a much better PG prospect in Mudiay or Russell this draft

If the Sixers win the lottery, I think they'd try to trade down a couple spots to get Mudiay or Russell plus an extra pick or two.  If they can't, I think they take Mudiay anyway.  Okafor is not the type of player the Sixers are looking for. 

[colincb]

You build championships with big men.  Essentially every champion ever has an an above-average/all-star big on the team. 

no, most champions have.  not every champion.

revisit the Detroit Bad Boys and Chicago Bulls title teams.  the bigs were not an integral part of the teams.  BTW, I don't count Rodman as a big -- he's an insane SF-sized player that could defend and rebound at any position pretty much

Your two examples... Bill lambeer was a 4 time Allstar

Bulls had Horace Grant who was an all-star. Dennis rodman wasn't a traditional big, but he was a dominant defensive PF and one of the greatest rebounders in history.  He filled the void.

Championships are won with dominant scorers and elite bigs

Grant was a one-time all-star and hardly dominant. Rodman was 6'7 playing PF because he couldn't score at SF and the Bulls had a better player in Pippen there anyway.

As for Laimbeer being elite because he was an All-star 4 times, so was your boy Rondo. Nobody at the time thought Laimbeer was elite and he has zip chance at the HOF now even with his rings.

[nickagneta]

I would trade this years pick for Nerlens in a heartbeat. He is going to be a better defender than Marcus Camby. He could be the defensive anchor this team needs for a decade because I am telling you now, he would re-sign in Boston in a nanosecond.

[celticsclay]

You build championships with big men.  Essentially every champion ever has an an above-average/all-star big on the team. 

no, most champions have.  not every champion.

revisit the Detroit Bad Boys and Chicago Bulls title teams.  the bigs were not an integral part of the teams.  BTW, I don't count Rodman as a big -- he's an insane SF-sized player that could defend and rebound at any position pretty much

Your two examples... Bill lambeer was a 4 time Allstar

Bulls had Horace Grant who was an all-star. Dennis rodman wasn't a traditional big, but he was a dominant defensive PF and one of the greatest rebounders in history.  He filled the void.

Championships are won with dominant scorers and elite bigs

Grant was a one-time all-star and hardly dominant. Rodman was 6'7 playing PF because he couldn't score at SF and the Bulls had a better player in Pippen there anyway.

As for Laimbeer being elite because he was an All-star 4 times, so was your boy Rondo. Nobody at the time thought Laimbeer was elite and he has zip chance at the HOF now even with his rings.

I can't believe Laimbeer made the all star team 4 times. I just watched a bunch of his game film on a 30 for 30 about the bad boys too. The first year he made it he averaged 13 points and 12 rebounds. Solid rebounding numbers, but 4th in the league. Usually don't see a player make it for that. I guess there were a lot less teams then.