With interest growing in NBA for services of Jahlil Okafor, it’s likely the Sixers enter the season with only Joel Embiid and Nerlens Noel at center. But, are Noel and Embiid Compatible?
The Process started with center Nerlens Noel rehabilitating his knee for a year with the Philadelphia 76ers. The following year, it was center Joel Embiid’s turn to undergo rehabilitation after foot surgery, and finally in the third year that was followed by Embiid rehabilitating while centers Jahlil Okafor and Nerlens Noel tried to find compatibility.
The process was sabotaged at every turn it seems. But 2016-2017 is a year with some hope. Joel Embiid is returning healthy, if you can believe recent progress. The Philadelphia 76ers hold the top pick of the 2016 NBA draft. The outcome could be an answer at either small forward/ shooting guard, or an answer for a forward position, which adds its own set of complexities to the complex front court situation of the Philadelphia 76ers.
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Will the Philadelphia 76ers keep all three centers? While Sam Hinkie’s unorthodox patterns certainly made it a likelihood until the 2017 NBA trade deadline to maximize value, Bryan Colangelo is certainly far more traditional. He sees three centers, and if he is leaning towards Ben Simmons as reported, then he will want to clear some room in the front court for the new prospect. He has the potential to create a big team with exceptional versatility and athleticism if the team begins to consider Nerlens Noel with Joel Embiid at the five.
But does that mean the Philadelphia 76ers trade Jahlil Okfor? Since he arrived, those whispers have been heard. He arrived to the Sixers, filled in for center due to Joel Embiid’s second year of rehabilitation of his injured foot, and played remarkably well despite a team roster that really wasn’t set up to promote what he can do best: score at the post.
Next: When the Dealing's Done
When the Dealing’s done…
The rumor mills are heating up for the potential trade of center Jahlil Okafor. The latest to wade into the discussion is NBA insider Chad Ford:
"“I think that there’s a very high likelihood, that whether it’s to move up in the draft or use them to grab a free agent in a sign and trade or just to a trade, that you will not see the Nerlens Noel-Jahlil Okafor pairing at the start of next season. I think that they’ll gauge the interest of both players. I think that there might be a slight preference for Noel, to keep him around with the Sixers, and I think you might be right, there might be a slight, better value for Okafor out on the market, but I think everyone agrees that that combination of those two players doesn’t necessarily work. The Sixers needs to pick up assets, especially if they’re gonna go ahead and do a Ben Simmons or Brandon Ingram with the first pick in the draft. Then they’re gonna need those assets to start to fill out their backcourt, because the 24th pick and [the 26th pick], you’re not finding starters. I’m not even sure that you’re necessarily finding rotation players at that back end of the draft that are gonna make big impact, so they’re gonna have to do that via free agency or via trade, and I think either Okafor or Noel — I don’t think they’ll trade both — but one of those two is probably their best trade chip. If I was Philadelphia, it (trading Jahlil Okafor for the third pick of the 2016 NBA draft currently held by the Boston Celtics) would be done tomorrow. I don’t know if Boston would do it, but for Philadelphia, 100 percent. That would allow them to actually I think bring in another guard, an elite guard, whether that’s Kris Dunn or Jamal Murray, and suddenly now you’ve got a very, very bright future. I think that’s an easy call for the Sixers if Boston would do it. – Chard Ford as interviewed by 97.3 ESPN"
While there continues to be hope that the Philadelphia 76ers can exploit their very positive salary cap position into signing impact free agents, the reality is that is less likely to happen. Impact players do not only seek the most money, but they assess their prospective team’s likelihood of ending up in the playoff. In most cases, that will rule out the Philadelphia 76ers.
And so, the alternative to bring veterans onto the team would involve trades. Right now, the Philadelphia 76ers are loaded with youth and potential. The team also has an abundance of NBA draft picks for the foreseeable future. But trades involve assets, and the obvious asset for the trade block is center Jahlil Okafor.
Next: More The Merrier
The More The Merrier
While the Boston Celtics are reported to be in the hunt for Okafor after failing to obtain the center at the 2016 trade deadline, there are other teams who have an interest in the offensive thunder from under the basket. One such team you should not rule out is that of the Los Angeles Lakers:
"We need a big. Jordan [Clarkson] is a free agent and we’d like to sign him. D’Angelo [Russell], we’re very high on, and we have Lou Williams. I think we’re more set in the backcourt than the front court. Two days after the Lottery, that’s where we are. In six weeks, we’ll see.– Los Angeles Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak"
Other teams need help at the all too difficult to fill center position too. Some are in need of “that one piece” to give them a chance at a deep playoff run, which others simply need a player with enough upside to build a team around.
Jahlil Okafor gives an NBA team a real cornerstone piece.
It need not be today. It need not even be on draft night. The value of Jahlil Okafor will continue to rise until some team will offer premium value for the soon to be sophomore center of the Philadelphia 76ers.
And when that happens, the Sixers will need to answer the question they’ve asked for over two years: Can Nerlens Noel and Joel Embiid co-exist?
Next: This Should Work
This Should Work
The theory is yes. While Nerlens Noel is a bona-fide rim protector, Joel Embiid exhibits enough athleticism and physicality to push out to defend away from the basket. The struggle with Noel and Okafor was the willingness of both to collapse to the basket. Okafor was never a shot blocker, and has plenty of upside on rebounds. Noel was never a shooter.
This new combination has some new dynamics. Keep in mind, this was the original plan when Sam Hinkie was building the roster.
Noel will not be compelled to help on defense, as Joel Embiid has a good track record of defending in the past. Noel is great with both hands in defending the basket, and he gets great position in angles and timing of his jumps. Given the opportunity to focus on defense, he will be given the chance to explode in transition as he will have Joel Embiid and likely have Ben Simmons to scoop up his rejections:
Imagine the team with Embiid coming off the bench, facing the reserves on another team, or giving Embiid a breather. But it needn’t just be an either or. Can Joel Embiid compliment the game of Noel?
Next: Big Man Soft Touch
Big Man Soft Touch
Much of the expectation of what Joel Embiid will do is based on projection, estimation, and yes, a little faith. But when the young man fell to the Philadelphia 76ers at three in the 2014 NBA draft, he was not the third pick at all. He was a top pick of that NBA draft who fell due to his foot injury… a foot injury some continue to swear has already ended his career before it began.
But the Sixers have poured two years, countless hours and dollars, and tied the success of the franchise on the belief that he will make a full recovery and realize all the potential of his basketball career.
You see, Joel Embiid has been frozen in time for two years. But his draft profile was even more impressive than that of Ben Simmons: now up to 7’2″ and 250 pounds with a 7’4″ wingspan, Embiid appears to be engineered for the NBA. He has elite size, length and athleticism.
He has the ability to get down in a stance and switch on the pick-and-roll, bang with bigger players on the block and contest shots high above the rim. What makes him special, though, is what he can do on the other side of the ball. Embiid is the rare seven-footer who projects as both an elite defensive and offensive player.
For two years he has been watching, listening, getting stronger, and learning the NBA from the coaching staff of the Philadelphia 76ers. If he was a top prospect with just one year at Kansas, imagine what his potential will be with the 76ers.
But Embiid will need help. At the beginning of the season, he will most assuredly be on minutes restrictions. He will need someone to come in and play like a starter.
Nerlens Noel will be an incredible defender player who will give the Sixers something they covet most of all, flexibility. With the opportunity to go “big ball” by fielding Embiid Noel Saric Simmons and Covington, the team will have every bit the athleticism of the Golden State Warriors “splash brothers”, but they will be doing all their shooting from the 10,000 foot mark.
Next: Sam Hinkie Loved Wing Span...
Noel gives offense, but not in quantities which will lead the team. But Embiid can do that, while keeping up his end of the court with strong defense. It may be that the Sixers will sign plenty of veterans to help out. But for the front court, the team will be just fine.