The Sixer Sense
Fansided

How Philadelphia 76ers trading Nerlens Noel changed NBA center market

By Bret Stuter

PHILADELPHIA, PA - MARCH 17: Jahlil Okafor #8 of the Philadelphia 76ers guards Nerlens Noel #3 of the Dallas Mavericks in the first quarter at the Wells Fargo Center on March 17, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers defeated the Mavericks 116-74. 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. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - MARCH 17: Jahlil Okafor #8 of the Philadelphia 76ers guards Nerlens Noel #3 of the Dallas Mavericks in the first quarter at the Wells Fargo Center on March 17, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers defeated the Mavericks 116-74. 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. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 5
Next
PHILADELPHIA, PA – MARCH 17: Nerlens Noel
PHILADELPHIA, PA – MARCH 17: Nerlens Noel /

Trading Noel changed value of rim protecting center

While the NBA offense changed the route to scoring away from the basket and out to the three-point line, there remained a residual belief that even small-ball formats need an athletic rim protecting center. From that presumption, Philadelphia 76ers fans believed Nerlens Noel to be of far greater value than the eventual market value received. But beyond that, the player himself and his agent believed that he was due a max contract.

More from Sixers News

In the end, neither perception proved to be true.

The plan for centers is foggy

So how did we get there?  Well, we know that former executive Sam Hinkie had a plan to rebuild the Philadelphia 76ers into a championship team. In doing so, there were obvious moves made to infuse undervalued players onto the roster.

But those moves involved injuries and deeply discounted players whose upside far outweighed the risk of timing or new injury.   But there were more factors at work. The very fact that former GM Sam Hinkie made a run at the center position inflated the value.  Now, the track record of Hinkie fell into buy low and sell high.  So it’s impossible to tell whether he planned to trade the centers for a higher value.

What we do know is that the 76ers and Celtics had a deal fall through at the 2016 trade deadline, a deal which likely involved a 76ers center and a covetted Celtics draft pick.