The Sixers’ Perfect Back-up Big Man?
Often lost in the madness surrounding free agents Jimmy Butler and Tobias Harris, is Philadelphia’s glaring need for a capable back-up center to play behind Joel Embiid.
Throughout the 2019 playoffs, the Sixers’ lack of frontcourt depth caused significant issues and ultimately led to their Game 7 loss to the Toronto Raptors. With Joel Embiid on the court in the series against Toronto, the Sixers outscored their opposition by 90 points. With Joel on the bench, the team played to the tune of a minus-111 rating. This vast scoring gap was created because of the Sixers’ back-up centers (Greg Monroe and Boban Marjanovic) inability to contribute on the defensive end of the floor.
There are a number of big men that will hit the free agency market tonight at 6p.m that could interest the Sixers. However, the one that may make the most sense for Philadelphia will undoubtedly sound very familiar to Sixers fans.
Nerlens Noel, the Sixers 1st round pick in 2013, has rejected his player option with the Oklahoma City Thunder and will officially become an unrestricted free agent. The ex-Sixer played in parts of three seasons in Philadelphia from 2014-2017, before being traded to the Dallas Mavericks. Philadelphia was never able to unlock Noel’s full potential, having played him behind centers Joel Embiid and Jahlil Okafor. Because of this, the team was forced to sell low on Noel and received Andrew Bogut, Justin Anderson, and two 2nd round picks from the Mavs.
Noel will by no means set the world on fire with his current offensive ability, however, it is his defensive pedigree that makes him an intriguing option for the Sixers. In a scenario in which some combination of Jimmy Butler, Tobias Harris, and JJ Redick return to the team, the Sixers would have no interest in a back-up big man that requires a large number of offensive touches. Noel would be able to come off the bench and protect the paint in a way that no Sixer other than Embiid currently has the ability to do. Last season, Noel averaged 4.2 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in just under 14 minutes per game for the Thunder.
With the Sixers’ presumably maintaining a load management plan for Joel Embiid next season, a competent center other than Jonah Bolden becomes extremely important. Noel as a defensively versatile big would allow for a greater preservation plan of Joel and renew the possibility of the “Two Tower” lineup that fans once dreamed of when Noel was previously here.
Philadelphia will definitely have competition in signing the serviceable big man as he should come at a comparably lower cost than many others on the market. However, being familiar with Brett Brown’s philosophy, his friendship with Joel Embiid and the ability to get minutes on a potential contender are all factors that should make the Sixers an attractive destination for Noel.
Did the Sixers burn the bridges to this possibility by previously trading him? Or would Nerlens Noel consider returning to the city where his career began?
***UPDATE***
After agreeing to a deal to return to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday night, Noel has apparently had a change of heart. According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, Noel has “asked OKC for time to re-evaluate their earlier commitment on a new deal”. The Sixers are currently in a stand still until the Miami Heat are able to clear cap room to make the Jimmy Butler sign-and-trade official. With that being said, if Noel is still available after finalizing the Butler-Richardson swap, the Center would be a great fit behind Embiid and Horford as a defensive minded bigman off the bench. The Noel-Thunder negotiations are undoubtedly something for Elton Brand and the Sixers’ front office to keep an eye on in the coming days.
Featured Image: Bill Difilippo / Dime Magazine
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