The Sixer Sense
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If the Celtics Deal for Nerlens Noel, Who Do They Give?

By Josh Wilson

Apr 5, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Nerlens Noel (4) during the first quarter against the New Orleans Pelicans at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 5, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Nerlens Noel (4) during the first quarter against the New Orleans Pelicans at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Boston Celtics are reportedly interested in Nerlens Noel. If a deal were to get done, who would be included?

Let’s not look too deeply into things, but it looks as if a trade between the Boston Celtics and the Philadelphia 76ers for Nerlens Noel is not all that far out. These trade murmurs began on Wednesday night when Noel Tweeted out, “I’m blessed to be from Boston. Love my city.”

Although that seems innocent, Noel then took his profile picture down, replacing it with a black box, and also removed the Philadelphia skyline from the header in his profile. Still, his profile biography maintains that he is a Philadelphia 76er.

To add to all of this — which, let’s be clear, could be nothing at all — a report from CSNNE said that the Celtics have a high level of interest with the Sixers’ center, and also said that Noel is open to the option of being moved, if the Sixers deem that appropriate.

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At the same time, Sixers’ president Bryan Colangelo maintains that the Sixers will not make a deal simply to make a deal. He has said over and over that the Sixers will wait for a solid deal, and will not take a deal just to clear the logjam in the frontcourt that is incredibly obvious.

So what could make this deal — which CSNNE says is far from imminent — happen?

The Sixers previously needed some point guards, but have since filled those roster spots with veterans who will play for the next few years. They could cut one or two in training camp, but that just seems incredibly wasteful.

What the Sixers really need are shooters to surround first overall pick Ben Simmons with.

Looking at the Celtics’ roster, there’s really not a ton they can offer to the Sixers. Jaylen Brown, the prospect they selected third overall in this year’s draft, is solid, but shot below 30 percent from beyond the arc last season. Isaiah Thomas is a solid 3-point shooter and point guard, but the Sixers have a few of those already.

Avery Bradley, a shooting guard, could fit with the Sixers, but it still seems like that’s undervaluing Noel severely. Bradley shot 44 percent from the field and 36 percent from beyond the arc last season, and averaged 15.2 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game. It took Bradley 33 minutes a night to accomplish that stat line, which is slightly alarming.

Marcus Smart is likely going to be something else the Celtics would offer, and he shot near 25 percent from beyond the arc.

The Celtics do have the right to swap their pick with the Brooklyn Nets this season, if the Nets pick is a better value. The Celtics are likely going to offer that if they try to make a deal, because that would sweeten the 2017 NBA Draft for the Sixers. The Sixers already have their own pick, and the right to swap with the Sacramento Kings. They also have the Lakers’ pick, if it falls outside of the top 3 overall.

The Celtics also currently own the Nets’ 2018 first round pick.

Next: Examining Brown's Future With the Sixers

If the Celtics want to get a deal done, they’re almost certainly going to have to pull a third team in to attract the Sixers and give them prospects that they actually want and actually can use. They’re also going to have to forfeit some picks in coming years Right now, the Celtics roster is full of players that the Sixers truly just do not need, and this deal seems far from realistic, given how careful Colangelo has been with trading big men so far.