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Nerlens Noel Calls Out Front Office
The Philadelphia 76ers had a narrow window to resolve the front office, and each direction required a different approach from the front office. The team may have met with each player, identified the challenge of making a suitable deal, and reassured all three that the team may need to compromise with playing time.
The team might have “gone for it” with a deal, knowing the NBA would be deeply discounting the value of the centers from a team that had little else going for it. Despite two centers on minutes restrictions and questions with all three, the team announced a deal was a priority.
Or the team might have stayed silent and let nature take it’s course.
Would you believe…?!
As it turned out, the team announced a desire to fix the log jam to the world, and did not share the plan to deal one of the three centers with the players themselves. In fact, there was confusion as to which player might be dealt. And so, in his contract year, Nerlens Noel pointed out the obvious.
Nerlens Noel on the Philadelphia 76ers: "I think something needs to happen." (Via Philadelphia Inquirer)
— Clevis Murray (@ClevisMurray) September 26, 2016
It was not the wisest move for a young man eager to position himself for his next NBA contract. By challenging the wisdom of his front office, a player whose priority is to deliver certainty just added a new random variable. And it’s that uncertainty which has complicated this situation.