Nerlens Noel Could Be Trade Target After Ezeli’s Injury

With the lack of viable centers for the Portland Trailblazers after Festus Ezeli‘s injury, Philadelphia 76ers‘ Nerlens Noel would fill needs for both sides.

It’s no secret that the Philadelphia 76ers have been shopping center Nerlens Noel for quite some time. Unfortunately, the formerly flat-topped bigman has not found any real suitors. However, with the season-ending knee surgery that the Portland Trailblazers’ Festus Ezeli will most likely go under, Nerlens Noel is becoming an attractive name to fill that hole.

The Trailblazers have been looking for an answer at the center position since the departure of current San Antonio Spurs bigman LaMarcus Aldridge. A guy like LA leaves some big shoes to fill, literally and figuratively. The Blazers needed to address this need when Aldridge left back in 2015. Naturally, it’s hard to replace a guy who averaged 20 points per game and 10 rebounds per game. The Blazers looked to find guys who could fill the need.

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The first guy who was brought in was the former Brooklyn Net Mason Plumlee. Plumlee played his style of ball with athleticism and hustle. His first two seasons in the league had been relatively successful. Surprisingly, he played all 82 games not once, but twice. Mason made his name based off of that hard-nosed, high energy style of play.

With Portland, Mason Plumlee has improved and has been seen as a solid asset. However, he does not seem like the answer for this Blazers team. This season, Plumlee is averaging 10.4 points per game, 7.0 rebounds per game, and 4.3 assists per game. Those are solid numbers that show that each season he has improved slightly over time. He hasn’t done enough to warrant being the starting center in Portland.

So, Portland needed Festus Ezeli to fix their woes at the center position. Ezeli signed with the Trailblazers over the summer of 2016 after spending his first 3 NBA seasons with the Golden State Warriors. After getting an NBA championship with the Dubs in the 2014-2015 season and competing in the finals in the 2015-2016 season, Portland offered him a 2-year $16 million contract.

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Over his career, Festus Ezeli has been known as a role player. He typically doesn’t score in high volume, but provides defensive expertise and promise. Ezeli was vital in the 2015 NBA Finals in the pick and roll aspect of the game. He, like most of the Warriors bigs, focused on creating opportunities for guys like Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green.

However, Ezeli has been known to have knee problems. He spent the entire 2013-2014 season rehabbing from knee surgery. He didn’t make his return until the next season. Rather, this didn’t stop Portland from signing the big. Fresh off of two consecutive finals appearances, Ezeli was brought in to help bolster the Blazers’ front court.

Unfortunately the Blazers won’t get to see him compete, since Ezeli is now out for the season with knee surgery. This time the surgery is on his right knee. These sorts of problems can hinder the careers of bigmen. Sometimes these problems practically end guys’ careers (i.e. Andrew Bynum). The Blazers now have a new problem they need to address.

As a result, Portland now needs to find a guy who can fill the hole that Festus Ezeli leaves. If Philadelphia wants to relieve their logjam at center, they should offer up Nerlens Noel. It has been well documented that Noel is not happy with the lack of minutes he’s getting. With this discontent from Nerlens Noel, one can only assume that the 76ers are trying to shop him to all potential suitors. Thus, Noel could be find that playing time in Portland.

Portland Needs Noel

Now, why should Portland consider this? Well, for starters, there really aren’t that many options out there. Most teams in the NBA have a center or aren’t looking for one. Uniquely, the Sixers are a team that has an abundance at the position. With guys like Joel Embiid, Jahlil Okafor, and Richaun Holmes on the roster, the center position is more than taken care of. Portland has two real options at the 5: Mason Plumlee and Meyers Leonard. On the contrary, Leonard has transitioned to playing the 4, and thus has no real value as a 5. Nerlens is a true center and thrives best at that spot.

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In addition, Noel would be someone who’s automatically going to fight for a starting spot. Noel wants to play quality minutes in the NBA. He understood that the three center debacle in Philly was going to make him the odd man out. As a result, if he gets sent to Portland, he will feel the need to prove to the NBA that he’s legit.

Most notably, Festus Ezeli has no set timetable for return. Therefore, Portland needs to look beyond him at the center position. Noel would immediately make an impact for a team that desperately needs it. For a team that’s currently the 8th seed in the Western Conference, this sort of acquisition might solidify them as a legit contender.

So, how pretty of a penny would this deal cost both sides? There are a multitude of ways to get this deal done. Ultimately, I think that one of the Blazers’ guards would make a great piece in such a trade. Interestingly enough, Portland is very guard-heavy while Philly is very bigman-heavy. It only makes sense to go about it this way. Here’s what I would propose:

PHI Receives: SG Allen Crabbe, PG Shabazz Napier

POR Receives: C Nerlens Noel, SF Hollis Thompson

So, this works because Crabbe would get the opportunity to start in Philly. For instance, he only started 9 games in Portland over the last 2 seasons. Naturally, guy who shoots 41.0 percent from the three and 43.6 percent from the field should be getting more looks. He’s been buried underneath the shadow of C.J. McCollum, and could use the chance to play quality minutes as a starting two-guard.

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In conclusion, both sides have needs that could one trade would help address. The Sixers need to get rid of this logjam at center. The Blazers need to fill a need at center after Festus Ezeli went down. Such a trade would help both teams in their own respective areas. Hopefully, something happens satisfy the needs for both sides.