Washburn : C's interested in Nerlens Noel

[LarBrd33]

I like Noel, but paying him max money? Ugh. I dont like that at all.

Trade for him and you can match offers from other teams.  That gives you the choice to re-sign him or not based on real market value.  To sign him outright as a RFA, you are competing against his perceived value only.

I would go get Noel ASAP.  Horford is not progressing in his concussion protocol and Olynyk is still out and likely will need many weeks to get into game shape after he returns.

Isnt Noel irrelevant to our current injury concerns? I thought he himself is working his way back from surgery. Granted I could be dead wrong.

The better value and better prospect is Okafor IMO. Okafor is longer and has much more legit potential on defense than people care to say and because many are down on Okafor his value is low for what you get back.

IMO many view Okafor as some type of idiot or vegetable that can't improve his game or body......from my scouting he has gotten his body in better conditioned(15lbs lighter than playing weight at end of last season) and also has improved his skill(left hand, jumper).

Okafor has great footwork and hands.  He is a very good finisher within 5', and is able to create space for himself (due to his footwork) to get within 5'

But his defense is pretty bad.  And I see no ability to become a stretch at any point. He is no Embiid, and never will be.  He probably looks worse lately because of injury recovery, and being compared to Embiid, who is such an incredible athlete.

I just don't see us making any play for Okafor.

This was from a Sixers beat reporter

Derek Bodner ‏@DerekBodnerNBA  · 11h11 hours ago 
The Jazz scored on the first 6 pick and rolls they put Okafor in during last night's game.

This is the kind of analysis that is really hard to incorporate into evaluating a guy after watching a few highlights or seeing his stats. I do have some respect for Pelton and Lowe and their analysis and they ranked Okafor as the 8th or 9th best rookie in his class for potential. I just can't dismiss that as some nonsense from these guys that know basketball and advanced stats. This was posted today on liberty ballers. May warrant it's own thread...

http://www.libertyballers.com/2016/11/8/13559540/jahlil-okafor-lack-of-defensive-awareness-appalling-duke-nba-nerlens-noel-center-sixers-76ers-embiid

One thing to remember is Okafor is coming off an injury and only played one preseason game. 
Okafor's defense does need a lot of work especially on the pick and roll.  He's never going to be a good defender.  The question is can he become an average defender.  I think he can if he puts in the effort.  Offensively he's looking better.  He had a couple really nice dunks on Gobert.

I think he won't put in the effort and I think he will never be as good of a defender as Al Jefferson.

Jahlil is still months away from being back in game shape and he's already averaging his typical 21 points, 8 rebounds, 2 blocks, 1 steal with 48% shooting per-36.

The 20 year old still has a potentially very bright future once he gets in game shape and starts putting in some effort on the defensive end.  I'd like to see him with some quality coaching and a team that has a winning mentality.  He still looks like he's unhappy to be playing in Philly and you can't really blame him.

[Monkhouse]

Honestly every 76ers big has a bright future... IF they can reach it.

I am just in awe of Embiid, especially with a healthy one... Blocking LBJ, shooting 3 pointers, dream shake, and his fantastic fastbreak finishes/decisions.

He's just really smart, talented, and athletic. This guy is going to be a problem.

[celticsclay]

Honestly every 76ers big has a bright future... IF they can reach it.

I am just in awe of Embiid, especially with a healthy one... Blocking LBJ, shooting 3 pointers, dream shake, and his fantastic fastbreak finishes/decisions.

He's just really smart, talented, and athletic. This guy is going to be a problem.

I think most people really like Embiid. A lot of people are really high on Simmons (including myself). I actually really like Noel, particularly defensive. I haven't seen enough of Saric to really form a strong opinion.

 I fee like the problem is that people have that like the process have gotten so over the top with defending it that they feel the need to act like every single prospect is a future all-star for it to be successful (even viewing these guys in a higher regard than 76ers fan do). If the guys I mentioned turn out to be great (or really just embiid and simmons( it doesn't matter at all whether Okafor is a bit of a bust for the 3rd overall pick. At worse he would be a bench player or able to fetch them a bench player which is all they need behind embiid. I wish we could have a level of discourse about him that they 76ers fans seem to be able to and we for some reason can't.

[Alleyoopster]

Is it just my imagination or are there really more posts on CB about Noel than any Celtic player? 

[tazzmaniac]

Honestly every 76ers big has a bright future... IF they can reach it.

I am just in awe of Embiid, especially with a healthy one... Blocking LBJ, shooting 3 pointers, dream shake, and his fantastic fastbreak finishes/decisions.

He's just really smart, talented, and athletic. This guy is going to be a problem.

I think most people really like Embiid. A lot of people are really high on Simmons (including myself). I actually really like Noel, particularly defensive. I haven't seen enough of Saric to really form a strong opinion.

 I fee like the problem is that people have that like the process have gotten so over the top with defending it that they feel the need to act like every single prospect is a future all-star for it to be successful (even viewing these guys in a higher regard than 76ers fan do). If the guys I mentioned turn out to be great (or really just embiid and simmons( it doesn't matter at all whether Okafor is a bit of a bust for the 3rd overall pick. At worse he would be a bench player or able to fetch them a bench player which is all they need behind embiid. I wish we could have a level of discourse about him that they 76ers fans seem to be able to and we for some reason can't.

I agreed with the process but I certainly don't think all their prospects are going to be stars.  I've said before that Embiid and Simmons are their core to build around.  If Simmons and Embiid reach their potential, it really doesn't matter that much how well the rest turn out. 

I'm really high on Embiid.  Simmons a bit less so based on how he performed at LSU.   He really needs to be working on his jump shot during his recovery like Embiid did.   Saric isn't going to be a star but he should be a good glue guy.  I'd top him out as a 4th or 5th starter.  Noel isn't a star but he can start on the right team.  I think Okafor can still improve enough to be a lesser star but I agree right now he's looking more like a good offensive big off the bench.