While the Golden State Warriors have been as good as advertised so far, there are still murmurs around the league that they will look to fill in the spot of rim protector before they head into the playoffs and reclaim the title they lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers last year. In related news, Philadelphia 76ers Nerlens Noel is expected to be eased back into the Sixer rotation soon. Nerlens Noel is a cheap contract, which fits perfectly in the Warriors cap scheme of things. The question is, do they have enough assets to make a move at the springy big man?
The easy answer to that question is no, and unless they are able to convince a third team to help out what has promised to be one of the most hated teams in the league this year, the Warriors will be hard pressed to deal the likes of Ian Clark, Kevon Looney, James McAdoo, Patrick McCaw, along with any of their future picks for someone with Nerlens Noel’s talent.
Last season, Nerlens Noel averaged 11.2 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game. That’s excellent numbers for a 22-year-old player who has yet to find himself in a winning atmosphere, and should only be expected to develop further the longer he plays. And, with the logjam at the center position in Philadelphia, it certainly looks like the Sixers will, at the very least, listen to teams around the league interested in Nerlens Noel.
Nerlens Noel underwent successful surgery last Oct. 25 to repair an inflamed plica in his left knee. Barring injuries, the Sixers have a shoo-in superstar in Joel Embiid, who is finally showing why he was drafted third overall out of Kansas despite bringing with him a slew of injuries. In just 22 minutes a game, Joel Embiid is averaging 18 points and 7.3 rebounds per game, while showing a vast array of skills.
