The Sixer Sense
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Nerlens Noel Can Get To Cleveland Cavaliers

By Lucas Johnson

Dec 20, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Nerlens Noel (4) drives against Cleveland Cavaliers forward James Jones (1) during the fourth quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. The Cavs won 108-86. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 20, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Nerlens Noel (4) drives against Cleveland Cavaliers forward James Jones (1) during the fourth quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. The Cavs won 108-86. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /
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With recent rumors of Nerlens Noel being linked to the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Philadelphia 76ers must find a creative way of making a deal work.

Last week my editor, Bret Stuter, wrote a great article of how a trade with the Philadelphia 76ers and the Cleveland Cavaliers could bring Nerlens Noel to Believeland. Bret did a great job with this article, he had some great points and it made a lot of sense, but one flaw in his trade was that Kevin Love would come to the Sixers in the deal. Love is a great player no doubt, but he is not a good fit for Philly right now. That is why this article is being written to offer an alternative to Bret’s initial proposal.

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Bret had the right idea of having Noel and Love as the main to pieces of his trade. If Love were to get traded he would like to go to a contender and lets face it, the Philadelphia 76ers are not going to be a contender for a few years. This deal would go a lot smoother if there was a third team added to this trade.

The Boston Celtics have been trying for the last several years to acquire Love and now may be the best time for general manager, Danny Angie, to pull the trigger on a trade. If the Celtics get Love they would have their own version of a “Big 3”. With Isaiah Thomas and Al Horford as solidified all-stars Love’s arrival would be a flash back to the late 2000’s all over again in Boston.

The Celtics would not have to give up much at all for Love. The Cavaliers would get Jonas Jerebko to help space the floor for their team. The Sixers would receive Jaylen Brown, Amir Johnson, and Terry Rozier.

Some may say this is unfair to the Celtics for just Love, however, that is not the case. In return, the Celtics would receive Love and Iman Shumpert from the Cavaliers. Love can play at power forward and Horford at center which would be a killer one-two punch. Shumpert is an athletic defensive wing that can either play shooting guard or small forward so he can provide depth behind Jae Crowder. The Sixers would also take the cap hit from taking on Amir Johnson and also send a top 10 protected first round pick from the early 2020’s to the Celtics.

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This is fair trade for everyone involved. Philadelphia 76ers get young perimeter players to help build around and if anything they could waive Johnson to save roster space. Johnson is on the last year on his contract and wouldn’t have any long term effects on the salary cap. The Cleveland Cavaliers would get the center that they need to contend against the Golden State Warriors, as well as a stretch four in Jerebko to make defenses pay. The Boston Celtics finally get a new “Big 3” with Love, depth at the small forward position with Shumpert, and a draft pick to continue building.