Toronto Raptors
Another team that has found themselves in the midst of the Nerlens Noel rumors is the Toronto Raptors, slotting yet another competitive Eastern Conference teams that could be looking to poach the Sixers’ most experienced defensive big. While this trade may seem somewhat odd, especially considering Noel would be an automatic backup to Jonas Valanciunas, there is some validity behind potential interest from Toronto.
The Raptors lost a massive defensive cog off the bench in Bismack Biyombo this offseason, as the shot blocking stud signed a big-money deal in Orlando to play behind Nikola Vucevic with the Magic. Now, with Lucas Nogueira and rookie Jakob Poeltl being the only other true centers behind Valanciunas in the rotation, some added depth could be a positive.
Nogueira is a solid shot blocker in his own right, but nothing off the same caliber, nor polish that Noel provides on the defensive end of the floor. Noel’s more developed approach to the game defensively, both in rebounding the ball and from a physical perspective, is something that could provide a nice boost to the Raptors’ second unit.
This is a Toronto team on the brink of being the clear-cut second best team in the Eastern Conference, and making continued strides to stay ahead of teams like Boston and Chicago is likely something their front office is significantly interested in. Nogueira, even from an offensive perspective, is a shell of what Noel is capable of, and Poeltl has shown little evidence that he’s ready to make a significant impact so far.
Related Story: Comparing the Sixers' Rebuild to the Toronto Raptors
This is a frontcourt, that outside of Patrick Patterson in the backup power forward role, is relatively limited outside of Valanciunas’ scoring in the starting rotation, and that’s the type of depth-related issue that can harm a team of Toronto’s caliber come playoff time. Out of the trio of Nogueira, Poeltl, and starting power forward Pascal Siakam, no player is averaging above 6 points or 4 rebounds per game. Patterson, as well, is averaging just 8 points and 5 rebounds off the bench.
Noel’s career averages of 10 and 8, with elite defensive pedigree at such a young age is something that likely appeals to the Raptors in a big way–and that’s something that could benefit the Sixers’ team in orchestrating a trade.
What Could Move
While they aren’t going to squeeze a star talent out of a deal with Toronto–or any team–there are some solid perimeter pieces that could be thrown around, with Terrence Ross being the primary name mentioned in that conversation. As an excellent athlete on the perimeter with a smooth stroke from deep, Ross checks all the boxes of an ideal player for the Sixers to cultivate on their perimeter–giving them a legitimate starting option to consider, and somebody who has some real upside moving forward still at 25-years-old.
Potential Trade Scenario:
Philadelphia 76ers receive: SF Terrence Ross, SG Norman Powell
Toronto Raptors receive: C Nerlens Noel
This is yet again a fairly primitive outline of a potential trade, but one that would theoretically work nonetheless. This is a move that jives well with Bryan Colangelo’s desires to make immediate improvements to the roster but still retains a noticeable dose of youthful talent moving forward.
Ross becomes an immediate starting candidate at the small forward position–especially with Covington struggling–and gives Philadelphia another reliable long-range shooter to boot. With the massive improvement we’ve seen in that department this season, adding another young weapon who can aid in established that precedent moving forward is something that the Sixers could benefit from in a major way.
Ross is putting in 10.4 points per contest on 44% shooting from 3-point range so far this season and continues to trend upwards in comparison to his career averages of 9.4 of 38% respectively. He is someone that the Raptors have stressed the value of quite a bit this season due to injuries, with DeMarre Carroll beginning to regain health, his status as a backup makes a trade for such a massive acquisition in Noel more palatable.
Now whether or not the Raptors see enough value in Noel to part ways with Norman Powell as well is iffy, but he would be a fine acquisition on the part of Philadelphia. The Sixers could very well be asked to move another perimeter piece–such as a Hollis Thompson–over in return to balance out the hauls, but Powell brings a nice prospect to the forefront of the Sixers’ rebuilding efforts.
He’s putting up 6.6 points in just 15 minutes of play this season but has shown flashes of extended success at times. The second year guard out of UCLA has improved his 3-point shooting–hitting close to 44% as well–and would become the most athletic player in the Sixers backcourt outside of the aforementioned Ross.
He’s a skilled slasher on the offensive end and has increasingly improved his awareness as an all-around producer at the NBA level. He’s one of those second round gems that teams stumble across on a yearly basis, and would really mesh well with the lingering ideals of Sam Hinkie’s ‘process.’