Morning Phil-Up: Nerlens Noel Showing Offensive Improvement

On Tuesday, the Eagles made a couple more releases, parting ways with veterans Trent Cole and Cary Williams.

The moves give the team well over $30 million in cap space, giving them ample room to go out and sign some of the league’s top free agents.

While it’s unclear what direction the team will go to replace Cole and Brandon Graham at linebacker, I believe the Williams release is a clear indication that the Birds feel confident that they can land Byron Maxwell or one of the other top corners.

Be sure to check out these articles from around the web as you start your morning.

Nerlens Noel Showing Improvement On Offense – Philly Voice

The Sixers knew that Nerlens Noel was going to be a project.

The former top draft pick has immense talent, but he’s also entered this season as one of the league’s most raw players. The team has been working with Noel since he arrived in Philadelphia to rebuild his jump shot from the ground up, and as the NBA season begins to wind down, we’ve finally begun to see the fruits of the club’s labor.

Noel has averaged 13.4 points per game over his last 13 games, including a 17-point effort against Toronto on Monday where he went 7-7 from the floor and 3-4 from the free throw line.

Noel is slowly developing into a nightly double-double threat who has the potential to be one of the game’s elite defenders. He could become the team’s first legitimate building block if his offensive game continues to round into shape.

With Michael Carter-Williams out of the picture, the door is open for Noel to put his stamp on the young team and establish himself as one of their leaders.

Releasing Cary Willams Is Not Without Risk For Eagles – The 700 Level

On Tuesday afternoon, the Eagles announced that they had parted ways with veteran corner Cary Williams, ending the former Baltimore Raven’s two-year run with the team.

While the move saves the Eagles some money on their salary cap, the move does come with a certain degree of risk for the club.

Williams wasn’t elite, but he was a somewhat stabilizing presence in the defensive backfield. He wasn’t a shutdown guy, but he was capable of filling a starting position. The Eagles must now look to replace both starting corners with Williams now gone and fellow starter Bradley Fletcher set to be a free agent.

It’s now going to take more than just signing Byron Maxwell for the Eagles to completely clean up their secondary. Another move in addition to signing a top corner will be necessary to stabilize the position.

Trade Brewing? Phillies’ Scout Stands Out At Red Sox Camp – CSNPhilly

Charley Kerfield, one of the top scouts in the Phillies’ organization, was spotted on Tuesday at the Boston Red Sox camp, evaluating some of Boston’s young talent.

The Red Sox have been one of the teams that been rumored to be among the strongest potential suitors for Cole Hamels and Cliff Lee, and it makes a lot of sense for the Phillies to send their best scouts down to examine Boston’s best prospects.

However, this is not an indication that any deal may be close. Ruben Amaro was quick to downplay Kerfield’s presence at Boston’s camp, stating that it was simply a planned routine for Kerfield to be making rounds across the league, and the Red Sox were coincidentally his first stop.

I’m inclined to take Amaro at his word on this one. He seems to be in no hurry to put together trades for either of his top pitchers, and I don’t expect that to change in the coming days.

Eagles’ Talks With Brandon Graham Aren’t Progressing Well – Bleeding Green Nation

Along with Cary Williams, the Eagles also parted with veteran linebacker Trent Cole on Tuesday.

According to reports, the team’s talks with pending unrestricted free-agent Brandon Graham also aren’t going well.

Graham is said to be looking for a four-year deal worth over $30 million. He’s looking for an opportunity to start, and an opportunity that will provide him with a great payday.

The Eagles may still be able to re-sign Graham if he’s unable to find what he’s looking for on the open market, but the team may be much better off by looking to some of the other top options available to them through free agency.