Knicks Trade Rumors: Nerlens Noel Available For Trade
It’s no secret that Nerlens Noel wants to be traded by the Philadelphia 76ers. A recent report states that the 76ers are tempted to adhere to that request.
The New York Knicks are in a position of relative uncertainty after 17 games. Though it’s far too early to panic, the Knicks have reason to believe that the cure to their woes isn’t currently on the roster.
It’s still too soon to commit to that determination, but some feel as though the time is right for the Knicks to evaluate alternative options.
The Knicks undoubtedly have options as it pertains to executing a trade at some point during the 2016 campaign. A number of players have been placed on the trading block already, including Philadelphia 76ers big man Nerlens Noel.
According to Marc Stein of ESPN, the situations in Philadelphia remains rather hostile, as Noel wants to be traded and the organization is expected to accommodate him.
Nothing has changed here. Noel has yet to appear in a game this season after electing to undergo arthroscopic knee surgery last month, but word is he’d still prefer to be shipped to a new address with so many big men to battle for playing time in Philly. Count on the Sixers to accommodate him eventually.
It’s appears as though it’s only a matter of time before a trade transpires.
Noel infamously called the Sixers’ rotation of big men, “Silly,” during September of 2016. For those unfamiliar, Philadelphia have four promising and respected young big men who are all 22 years of age or younger.
Those players are the 22-year-old Joel Embiid, the 22-year-old Noel, the 20-year-old Jahlil Okafor, and the 22-year-old Dario Saric.
With Ben Simmons at small forward, there are only so many minutes for those four players to share. Embiid is establishing himself as a future star and Saric is showing intriguing upside, while Noel and Okafor have done the same in previous seasons.
Unfortunately, young players who are attempting to improve suffer more from limited playing time than veterans who have already established themselves.
There’s no guaranteeing that Noel will be available to the Knicks, but he’s an interesting player to evaluate. New York is No. 24 in the NBA in points allowed per game and No. 27 in points allowed per 100 possessions.
Given Noel’s status a rising star on the defensive end of the floor, exploring the possibility of pairing him with Kristaps Porzingis is a tantalizing proposition.
Nothing is even close to imminent, but as December 15 nears, the Knicks should be aware of the possibility of trading for Noel.
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