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Sixer Sense Mailbag: Trade Nerlens Noel? Pick Porzingis?

By Drew Corrigan

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Hello, hello everyone. Today we have questions about trading Nerlens Noel, things about Kristaps Porzingis, if Jeremy Lin could be a Sixer and more.

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As I stated in the other mailbag that went up this week, I received a lot of questions, so I decided to split it up into two separate mailbags. If you didn’t see your question in the first mailbag, it should be here.

As always, follow me on Twitter @Dcorrigan50, or @SixerSense to submit questions.

Next: Sixer Sense Mailbag: Is the NBA Draft Here Yet?

The difference between Dario Saric and Kristaps Porzingis is a few things. The easiest way for me to put it is that Saric is a 6’10” forward that will be a 4 in the NBA, but could slide to 3. For Porzingis, he’s a legit 7’0″ that could play the 4 and the 5, but not the 3. Saric is the better ball handler, but Porzingis appears to be more athletic and obviously, taller. But, Saric and Porzingis are around the same weight (220 pounds), which is a bigger problem for Porzingis than Saric. Both need to put on weight in order to succeed at the NBA level, but more for Porzingis who needs the weight to bang in the paint.

Someone like Saric could be a point-forward type player, where Porzingis can be a playmaker at the 4-5 spot that can also knock down the three. Saric is the safer pick due to his ball-handling abilities and motor. Porzingis is a project, who could turn out really well with the right player development around him.

Everyone wants to hear the answer no to this question, but that’s simply not the case. I’m listening to Liberty Baller’s Mike Levin who appeared on the Amateur Hour Podcast to talk Sixers as I write this, so that helps. As Levin pointed out, Noel will be up for a new contract in two years, that will most likely to be a max-deal, or somewhere close to it. If the Sixers get the right offer (something like the MCW trade), then they could let go of Noel.

There’s always a chance for a player to be traded on the Sixers. I wouldn’t say there are any untouchables on the roster except Joel Embiid. Again, it would take a really good offer for the Sixers to trade Noel, but it’s certainly possible.

Without looking anything up and using my own memory, it was Elton Brand and before him, Chris Webber, who was on his last legs. The Sixers have had problems getting FAs to come here in recent history and usually had to settle with big men who were way past their prime like Brand and Webber.

People often forget that free agents have to agree to come to Philadelphia, this isn’t a one-way deal. The Sixers could put all the money in the world on the table for Kawhi Leonard/Jimmy Butler/Draymond Green, if those guys don’t want to play here, it isn’t happening.

No. I’m not high on Lin and never have been. I don’t see the need to pay him $3-6 million per year, especially at the point guard position. Going into next season, the Sixers already have to make decisions on Ish Smith, Isaiah Canaan, Pierre Jackson and Tony Wroten. All four of those guys won’t make the roster. If the Sixers bring on a point guard in the draft, that’s even less room for another point guard. I don’t see the room, or reason, why the Sixers would go out and sign Lin.

Because Robert Covington and Hollis Thompson can shoot. I won’t discredit Spencer Hawes, because he shot 39 percent from deep in 13-14, but he was always a role player on that team, his numbers weren’t that impressive. When Thaddeus Young and Evan Turner were dropping numbers on the Sixers, it was mainly due to their high shot attempts and increased usage.

In 2013-14, Thaddeus Young took 16.2 shots per game while Evan Turner took 15.4, career-highs for both. Young had a usage percentage of 24.1 and Turner’s was 24.4, very high for both. Both of them were taking more shots, having more chances to score, and becoming more of the focal point of the offense.

In the case for Covington and Thompson, both are suited best as three-point shooters, with Covington shooting 37 percent and Thompson shooting 40 percent from three. Each took over four shots per game from deep, which leads to a bigger sample size, which leads one to believe that it’s sustainable.

Thompson had a 15.5 usage percentage — one of the lowest on the team — while Covington’s was 21.1. We never saw Thompson as the focal point, or Covington that much, so their numbers are legit.

A lot of this depends on what happens after the NBA Draft and free agency. But, regardless, Brett Brown is going to have to show that he’s moving the program another step forward for him to earn a contract extension. If Joel Embiid + [insert No. 3 pick] really start to shine and pick up some Ws then maybe it happens this season. However, the most likely scenario is for Brown to pick up and extension during the season after this upcoming one, where a lot will be expected from Brown (like the playoffs).

Thanks to everyone who submitted questions. Let’s talk soon.