Sixers Center Nerlens Noel Says Sam Hinkie “Would Never Trade Me”
Listen to Sixers’ center Nerlens Noel talk on The Vertical Podcast.
Nerlens Noel has been apart of the most talked about Sixers topic for the past year and a half. He has been far from shy towards the media about his unrest about the Sixers’ frontcourt, and he sat down with Adrian Wojnarowski for The Vertical Podcast.
Noel talked to Wojnarowski about countless topics, ranging from the city of Boston, to his Kentucky days, to his struggling with his transition to the NBA. There was nothing substantially new, but he it was interesting getting an inside look at the real life of Nerlens Noel.
You can listen to the podcast here below:
The most interesting tidbits came from when Noel talked about adjusting to the change in regime. He mentioned his close relationship with Sam Hinkie. He went as far as saying that Hinkie told he’d never trade Noel. Hinkie’s first big move as the Sixers’ general manager came when he traded All-Star guard Jrue Holiday for Noel’s draft rights.
More from Philadelphia 76ers
- 3 Reasons the 76ers Should Poach Blake Griffin From the Celtics
- 3 Most Overpaid 76ers Heading Into the 2023 Season
- Ranking Daryl Morey’s 3 Biggest Mistakes with 76ers
- 3 Teams Crazy Enough to Trade for James Harden
- James Harden Putting Career in Jeopardy With Holdout Threat
It’s not surprising that Noel and Hinkie’s relationship was a good one. Hinkie’s first main investment was Noel, and with the rumored owner interference of owners to elect Jahlil Okafor in the 2015 draft, it ponders the thought of how Hinkie would find a resolution to this situation.
Hinkie contributed to this tough situation, but his pragmatic view on roster building would have surely brought in some type of move. Noel’s talk on Hinkie may indicate that Okafor would have been the one moved, without knowing the relationship he had with the Sixers’ other center.
Another juicy sound bite came when Noel said that he and Bryan Colangelo “did not communicate” about trade rumors. Trade rumors are on odd subject to speak to a player about, but this could mean Colangelo intends to move Noel, or that he’s just not comfortable discussing rumors. Either way, not a good look for the current general manager.
Wojnarowski asked Noel about his offseason workout in New England. Noel admits to little communication between he and the team’s executives, but quickly harps on the close relationship he and Brett Brown have.
The podcast did not bring any new narrative to a situation that is nearing the verge of toxicity. Noel has been the beneficiary of more playing time, with the team starting off 2017 hot. Okafor has not seen the court the past two games.
Next: Re-Judging The 2006 Slam Dunk Contest
The Noel and Okafor saga closes another chapter, but we might be getting to the end of this long and strange book soon.