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Philadelphia 76ers: Do you miss Nerlens Noel? I do

Jason Blevins
Jason Blevins

The Sixer Sense

PHILADELPHIA, PA - MARCH 17: Nerlens Noel #3 of the Dallas Mavericks looks on prior to the game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center on March 17, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)

PHILADELPHIA, PA – MARCH 17: Nerlens Noel #3 of the Dallas Mavericks looks on prior to the game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center on March 17, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – MARCH 17: Nerlens Noel #3 of the Dallas Mavericks looks on prior to the game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center on March 17, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)

With Nerlens Noel not receiving an offer from any team and not having a contract with the Dallas Mavericks, should the Philadelphia 76ers regret trading him?

Nerlens Noel was traded to the Dallas Mavericks in February for a top 20 protected first round pick and Justin Anderson. I will not use this time to disparage Justin Anderson. What I want to focus on for a few minutes are the stated drivers for the trade.

Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers

Philadelphia 76ers

Bryan Colangelo has spent his first 14 months as Philadelphia 76ers General Manager essentially making the right moves at the right time. This is not about piling onto Colangelo. But what Bryan focused on after the trade was that Nerlens would be a restricted free agent and the team did not wish to lose him for no compensation.

That was a valid perspective, to be sure at the time. The discussions last winter centered around the assumption that Noel would command up to $20 million per year. Much debate occurred regarding if that was too much to spend on a backup center. The alternative opinion focused on the extreme cap flexibility and the “Embiid insurance” aspect of retaining Noel.

Dallas and Restricted Free Agency Rights

Dallas was among a number of teams with a glaring need for a rim protector and gave up a modest sum to acquire those restricted free agency rights to Noel as well as get 22 games to kickstart integration into their team. Giving up Justin Anderson who had been relegated to DNP-CD (Did Not Play — Coaches Decision) status on a high lottery team along with two second round picks was a no brainer.

I believe that Dallas was willing to match any reasonable offer for Noel. But we are 12 days into NBA  free agency and not a single team has offered Noel a competitive contract. Meanwhile, negotiations between Noel, his agent and the Mavericks have a difficult negotiation simply because there is no market for his services.

SACRAMENTO, CA – APRIL 4: Nerlens Noel #3 of the Dallas Mavericks looks on during the game against the Sacramento Kings on April 4, 2017 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CA – APRIL 4: Nerlens Noel #3 of the Dallas Mavericks looks on during the game against the Sacramento Kings on April 4, 2017 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)

Dallas’ leverage complexity

The Mavericks have found themselves in a situation with all of the leverage but no cover for exercising that leverage. They have to find a way to justify any large commitment to Noel or risk having a disgruntled player. They are essentially negotiating with themselves at this point.

Good problem to have

But let me be clear. They are in an enviable position simply because they have the leverage and the rights to match. And I for one wish the Philadelphia 76ers had this tricky problem to deal with themselves. Nerlens Noel certainly does not have the offensive arsenal that Embiid has. And when viewed in a vaccuum, Noel is an inferior offensive player to Jahlil Okafor. But basketball is not played in space.

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I was very much hoping to see Ben Simmons and Nerlens Noel play together. Noel is a rim runner and a finisher on lobs in the pick-and-roll. Ben Simmons is a fantastic creator and needs finishers around him. Okafor needs the ball and space and time to operate in isolation. For this reason I have always maintained that Noel was a better offensive option for THIS TEAM.

On the defensive end, we know that rim protection is a huge issue when Joel Embiid is on the bench. Teams relentlessly attack the paint when Embiid sits down. Richaun Holmes certainly gets his share of blocks, but he does not dissuade teams from attacking downhill. Noel is someone teams have to be aware of, he maintains position better than Holmes.

I say all these even though I love what Richaun Holmes brings to the team from an energy standpoint.

PHILADELPHIA,PA – JANUARY 27 : Nerlens Noel #4 of the Philadelphia 76ers signs autographs for young fans prior to the game against the Houston Rockets at Wells Fargo Center on January 27, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA,PA – JANUARY 27 : Nerlens Noel #4 of the Philadelphia 76ers signs autographs for young fans prior to the game against the Houston Rockets at Wells Fargo Center on January 27, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)

Noel’s place in process history

The Noel trade in 2013 was really what woke me up that Sam Hinkie was trying something truly different. He has always been one of the pillars of the process. I do think that casual fans look at box scores and offensive counting stats and therefore do not appreciate what a true rim protector can bring to a team. His lack of a jump shot or any one on one offensive moves has long stood out to the eye test as well.

But if you look back at the process era, no one has had to endure as heavy a burden as Nerlens Noel. Like Embiid, he was forced to red shirt his first year due to an ACL injury suffered at Kentucky. He then came into a team that had been dismantled piece by piece around him. Each time he gained cohesion with a point guard it seemed that he had a new one to learn to play with.

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He took far too much heat as the best player on the worst team. This was simply unfair to someone with a very particular set of skills. Noel is never going to be a two way star but he has a very real chance of having a Tyson Chandler type career.

What will he ultimately cost?

As of right now, Nerlens Noel counts at $10.9 million as a cap hold against the Dallas Mavericks. This is essentially the same price of Amir Johnson. If Noel does not get a competing offer, he and Dallas could agree to a one-year deal as low as $5.8 million for the qualifying offer. This would make Noel an unrestricted free agent next summer.

And when you look around the league, teams space is drying up rapidly. There is a very real possibility that something in the $12-to-15 million range is the contract Noel receives. That would be excellent value for the Philadelphia 76ers.

Next: Roundtable -- Thoughts on the Sixers' free agency moves

Alas I know the ship has sailed, but part of me will miss having Nerlens around when the team finally tastes lasting success.

Jason Blevins

Jason Blevins

21yrs into my career in IT, I have seen technologies go from revolutionary to obsolete. I am often stunned by an innovation and my brain goes from "well if that's possible then what does it mean" to "how do we measure it and test if it's true". The past four years the Sixers have shown us the "what if" scenario in live and painful color. I am excited to be along for the ride of the next five years to see what fruits the Orchard really can bear.