I know it's a minority opinion on this board, but I still would REALLY love to have Noel on the team. Assuming a trade would be something like Rozier, Young, and a pick, we might legit have a historic defense with a lineup of:
PG: IT, Jackson
SG: Bradley, Smart
SF: Crowder, Green
PF: Horford, Amir, JJ
C: Noel, KO, Mickey
I love Nerlens, but my problem is that I view Al as a center.
I don't, at least not at this point in his career.
* Horford is 6'10" / 250 pounds with a 7'0" wingspan. Pretty much prototypical size for an NBA Power Forward.
* The majority of Horford's offence these days is perimeter oriented. Just over 56% of all Horford's field goal attempts last year came from outside 10 feet, with 24% of those 56% being three point shots. His free throw rate (12.3%) was easily the lowest of his career, and significantly lower then his 22% career average. His offensive play style this past season was pretty much prototypical for an NBA stretch four.
* The average NBA center has a rebound rate of around 15%, which is the same as what Horford has averaged for his career. Last season Horford's rebound rate was 12.4% which is not only the lowest of his career, it was also slightly lower then what Jonas Jerebko averaged for us (13%). His rebounding numbers are pretty much what you expect from a stretch four in the NBA today.
Horford has the kind of skills and physical attributes that allow him to be effective at either the PF or C position in today's NBA, but now that his game has become more perimeter oriented he's a more natural fit at the PF spot.
My biggest worries with Horford up front are our rebounding and (to a lesser degree) rim protection. I'd love to add Noel because throwing him in the middle alongside Horford would negate those concerns.
I also feel like Noel's potential could jump significantly playing alongside a level headed big with Horford's experience.