How Philadelphia 76ers trading Nerlens Noel changed NBA center market
By Bret Stuter
Undervalued versus deflated
The value of that Noel trade with the Dallas Mavericks remains to be fully realized, but it breaks down to this. The Dallas Mavericks shed a huge contract in center Andrew Bogut. In his place, the Mavericks picked up expiring contract Nerlens Noel. On the Philadelphia 76ers side, the team received wing Justin Anderson plus a complex draft pick compensation which eventually played out as the Dallas Mavericks second round picks in 2017 and 2018.
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In that exchange, it’s difficult to asses the value for Noel, and the value for absorbing the Bogut contract. But suffice it to say that the Mavericks did not deal much for the rights to Nerlens Noel. But was it a shrewd deal, or deflated value?
Mirage value
The answer lies in the free agency market which followed by mere months. As Christopher Kline described in his follow up, the market for Nerlens Noel evaporated. POOF! Gone.
But the market forces for Nerlens Noel would have been dramatically different had the Philadelphia 76ers NOT traded Noel. Surprised?
It’s okay if you are, specifically since no team made an offer for the young center. But before we draw the wrong conclusions, let’s discuss this.