Nerlens - about to be traded?

[tazzmaniac]

Noel's stone hands stigma comes from the beginning of his 1st season.  On offense he was deer in the headlights bad.  He doesn't have great hands but it was more poor concentration  thinking about what he was going to do after he caught the ball.  One plus is that Noel is actually a pretty good passer. 

I used to want Noel but now I'm not sure that I do.  Partially its his recent attitude.  You don't hear Okafor complaining about them halving 3 starting centers.  Yes Noel is in a contract year but he should have said its a tough situation but he'd work his hardest to get wins for the Sixers and then see what happens in the offseason.  Instead it seems like he looked at Embiid and Okafor and judged himself to be 3rd best and is pouting about it.  The other reason is his inability to play PF defensively last season.  He's got the physical attributes to do so.  I just think it is a mental block and his attitude.  He could improve his value significantly if he showed he could defend PF.  Right now he's just a small ball defensive center.   

The Sixers should trade Noel if they get a reasonable offer.  If not, give him the qualifying offer and see what happens.  I can't see him getting anywhere near MAX.  I think it will be around 4yr/60-72mil.  There are not many teams that need Noel and would have the cap space.  If a team does make an offer, it ties up their cap space while the Sixers can wait three days to decide whether to match.

I can't believe I'm about to do this but...

Noel's been through some stuff. I don't think it'd have been an issue if we'd taken anybody but Okafor, but hey that's what Hinkie did. He's been a good soldier for a crap team, played without PGs who can create shots for him despite the fact that he can get to lobs only maybe 2-3 Centers in the NBA can get to, and despite all this anchored a top 10-12 defense when he actually got to play the position he should have.

He's an unreal defender, made progress on his FTs, finishes at the rim at an elite level, and is the most versatile big man defender in the NBA aside from maybe AD.

Yeah, he's p---ed he's going to be the 3rd guy in a rotation despite being in a contract year. He's carried the weight and feels like he's getting chucked to the curb.

If you guys can swing a deal for below market value, a real possibility barring an issue for the Sixers of trading to the C's you should be ecstatic.

You can be p---ed but still project a better attitude publicly. There's no reason for Noel to be the 3rd guy in the rotation.  The Sixers want to play a fast paced defensive style.  Noel fits that style of play much better than Okafor.  Until recently, I think the Sixers would have preferred to trade Okafor and keep Noel. 

Since you mentioned AD, I think the Pels would be a good landing spot for Noel.  AD and Noel would be a good combo.  They ought to offer their 1st rounder this year with some protection for Noel.  I don't think they'll find anyone better in the 10-16 range that they'll likely be picking. 

[RAAAAAAAANDY]

LOL, can you imagine for the Pels just kept Nerlens in 2013?

That front court would have been the best defensive front court in bball.

I get the attitude stuff, but Boston won 1 more game LAST YEAR than Nerlens has won in his entire career...

And he didn't play in the year they won 19 of those...

[tazzmaniac]

LOL, can you imagine for the Pels just kept Nerlens in 2013?

That front court would have been the best defensive front court in bball.

I get the attitude stuff, but Boston won 1 more game LAST YEAR than Nerlens has won in his entire career...

And he didn't play in the year they won 19 of those...

They would have also had their 2014 pick to get Payton, Saric, LaVine ...   

[celticsclay]

I tended to agree with LB that even if Noel was not playing tons of minutes this year it wouldn't really hurt his value a ton because teams still would view him the same. Now I wonder if Noel is doing the one thing that could actually hurt his value, appearing as a malcontent that causes chemistry issues if he does not like his role seems like a dangerous reputation to add the year before you enter free agency.

i tend to agree that he could sit out this whole season and teams would still have a ton of interest in him as an elite rim protector.  You don't simply forget.   People still think Larry sanders is a good idea.  I imagine this Noel situation will be taken care of itself this season eventually.

It's funny because as I watch Rozier tear it up in a nationally televised game, you can see his trade value going up in real-time.  You start to wonder if Philly would get desperate and move Noel for Rozier. But then I start to wonder if I have any interest as a Celtic fan seeing us trade away one of the only guys who has been able to consistently hit shots and has shown legitimate improvement.

Smart for Noel still makes some sense for Boston ... especially if Rozier is legit.  Though I still don't see it for Philly.  They need someone who can spread the floor and hit shots.  Jordan Clarkson for Noel makes sense for both teams but they'd need to wait until December 15th to make that trade.

well said lb!

[crimson_stallion]

I wonder if the Celtics are involved somehow.

I certainly hope not.  No one dimensional bigs here please.

Interior defence - check
P&R defence - check
Athleticism - check
Rebounding - check
Efficient scoring around the basket - check

One dimensional, you say?

[crimson_stallion]

Obviously we want as many shooters are possible but alongside Olynyk or a small ball 4 (like Crowder, Jerebko, or Brown) he could be a pretty devastating pick and roller.

You have to be able to do anything on offense beside score garbage points to be devastating.  The much dreaded Tyler Zeller is devastating compared to Noel.

For his career Noel has shot 69% from inside the restricted area, has gotten to the line at a very impressive rate (36.9% FTR), he's proven to be a decent passer (10.1% AST%) and even his mid-range jumper from 10-15 shows flashes of potential, at 30% for his career.

Don't get me wrong he IS an offensive liability right now, but he has the foundations in place to one day be at least "break even" on the offensive end - and he's only 22 years old this year.

Lets not forget the type of impact that Tyson Chandler had on bringing a championship to Dallas, or the type of impact he had on the Knicks when he first got traded there - when he was on the court he transformed that team.

Likewise lets not forget guys like Marcus Camby, Ben Wallace and even Amir Johnson have impacted the success of their teams over the years.

My advice is that it would be unwise to pass up on the chance to pick up a guy with Noel's defensive upside.  He's got the potential to be a franchise changer defensively, especially when paired up a versatile offensive player like Al Horford - that pairing is a match made in heaven.

[crimson_stallion]

I tended to agree with LB that even if Noel was not playing tons of minutes this year it wouldn't really hurt his value a ton because teams still would view him the same. Now I wonder if Noel is doing the one thing that could actually hurt his value, appearing as a malcontent that causes chemistry issues if he does not like his role seems like a dangerous reputation to add the year before you enter free agency.

i tend to agree that he could sit out this whole season and teams would still have a ton of interest in him as an elite rim protector.  You don't simply forget.   People still think Larry sanders is a good idea.  I imagine this Noel situation will be taken care of itself this season eventually.

It's funny because as I watch Rozier tear it up in a nationally televised game, you can see his trade value going up in real-time.  You start to wonder if Philly would get desperate and move Noel for Rozier. But then I start to wonder if I have any interest as a Celtic fan seeing us trade away one of the only guys who has been able to consistently hit shots and has shown legitimate improvement.

Smart for Noel still makes some sense for Boston ... especially if Rozier is legit.  Though I still don't see it for Philly.  They need someone who can spread the floor and hit shots.  Jordan Clarkson for Noel makes sense for both teams but they'd need to wait until December 15th to make that trade.

well said lb!

Ditto - well said LarBrd33

To be completely honest, I would definitely trade Smart for Noel before I'd trade Rozier for Noel. 

We have an elite defensive guard in Avery Bradley who is as good as it comes at defending quicker and more athletic guards. 

We have a elite defensive wing in Jae Crowder who excels defending bigger and more physical wings. 

We have a versatile, 'swiss army knife' style defensive big man in Al Horford who can do a little bit of everything. 

Adding a legitimate 7-footer who offers elite rim protection pretty much completes the puzzle and all but locks us in as a top 5 defence - probably better.

As nice as Smart is defensively, his one (and only) special talent is his ability to defend bigger and stronger perimeter players - a role that Crowder is already well equipped (better equipped, in fact) to handle.  This makes Smart mostly redundant, to be honest. 

For the time being it makes sense to keep him and utilise that defensive talent on the second unit, but if an opportunity arises to strengthen our starting five, then shipping out a mostly-redundant guy like Smart is the move that makes the most sense.


On the other hand this team seriously struggles putting points on the board, ESPECIALLY the second unit.  With Rozier's ability to score points in a hurry, he is the perfect leader for that second group of guys. 

I can envision us trading Marcus Smart and James Young to Philly for Noel (and a bit of cap relief).

That would still leave us with a second unit consisting of Rozier/Green/Brown/Amir/KO, which should be one of the stronger second units in the league.  Plus we'd still have the rights to Jackson, Hunter, Bentil and Mickey (plus Yabusele and Zizic) in case of emergency. 

As it stands right now, we are TOO deep.  We don't have enough minutes available on the perimeter to allow a rotation of Thomas/Bradley/Crowder/Rozier/Smart/Green/Brown to all get the kind of minutes they deserve.

We are, however, a little thin on the front end.  If Horford were to miss any time (knock on wood) it leaves us with a front-court depth chart of Amir Johnson, Kelly Olynyk, Tyler Zeller, Jonas Jerebko and Jordan Mickey - not exactly confidence inspiring.  And we still don't know how many minutes Amir is going to be able to play with his foot issues (which limited him to ~20 MPG last year).   

Adding Noel gives us a legit starting center, which also allows us to pair Amir with KO off the bench - a combination we already know works VERY well together.  It doesn't only strengthen our starting five, but our bench as well. 

It's a win-win move.

[moiso]

I wonder if the Celtics are involved somehow.

I certainly hope not.  No one dimensional bigs here please.

Interior defence - check
P&R defence - check
Athleticism - check
Rebounding - check
Efficient scoring around the basket - check

One dimensional, you say?

Tyson Chandler with worse rebounding and attitude?  Check.

[Snakehead]

Noel is not even a good rebounder.  You guys again continue to make him something he isn't.  When Chandler was at his height his TRB% was 20+.  As soon as he started playing decent minutes after his first three seasons when he rode the bench, it was at least at 18.  Noel's has put up 14 and 15 in his two seasons, where he has got the minute to show what he can do.

And by "effecient scoring" we mean garbage scoring.  Lets call it what it is.   He is no Tyson Chandler roll man and certainly has no touch or post moves.

[Clench123]

I'd rather have Okafor

[trickybilly]

I was curious to see (if and) when roziers value would surpass smart's on here.

Nerlens is a bit like a younger springyer version of Amir no?

[Moranis]

Noel is not even a good rebounder.  You guys again continue to make him something he isn't.  When Chandler was at his height his TRB% was 20+.  As soon as he started playing decent minutes after his first three seasons when he rode the bench, it was at least at 18.  Noel's has put up 14 and 15 in his two seasons, where he has got the minute to show what he can do.

And by "effecient scoring" we mean garbage scoring.  Lets call it what it is.   He is no Tyson Chandler roll man and certainly has no touch or post moves.

Chandler was also only 14 and 15 his first two years and was not the best rebounder on his team in either of those years, unlike Noel.  Not sure Chandler is the guy you want to use as a comparison.

[jpotter33]

Geeze, another major hit to Noel's trade value. He just had knee surgery and is out for some time.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2671125-nerlens-noel-injury-update-76ers-star-to-undergo-surgery-on-inflamed-plica

[celticsclay]

Geeze, another major hit to Noel's trade value. He just had knee surgery and is out for some time.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2671125-nerlens-noel-injury-update-76ers-star-to-undergo-surgery-on-inflamed-plica

Trade value aside I do feel pretty bad for this guy. He may be in danger of getting labeled as injury prone given he has had numerous injuries including one really serious one. My interest in him may be decreasing unless it as a rental. Hard to think about giving him big money.

[LarBrd33]

How long will the surgery keep him out?  I still say Noel for Jordan clarkson makes sense and Clarkson can't be traded until dec 15.