Section 215
Fansided

Philadelphia 76ers: An Outside Look On The Team

By George Kondoleon

Apr 12, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Philadelphia 76ers forward Nerlens Noel (4) takes a pass during shooting drills prior to playing Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 12, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Philadelphia 76ers forward Nerlens Noel (4) takes a pass during shooting drills prior to playing Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /
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Who would you rather trade if you were the Philadelphia 76ers, Jahlil Okafor or Nerlens Noel?

Dave: In a perfect world, I’d love to keep Nerlens Noel. He’s a shot blocking, athletic, rim runner who has no problem switching onto a wing. But we live in a world where salary matters. Noel is due for an extension, I believe he will be seeking the max, and someone is going to give it to him. Okafor has three years remaining on his rookie deal and that is a tremendous value for a backup center who can get you 18-20 points a night from the bench. Okafor should be able to feast on second units where his limited defensive ability is somewhat mitigated.

Ti: I would rather trade Nerlens Noel. I actually prefer him as a player, but hear me out on this. Nerlens’ value will be higher than Okafor’s. Teams are already trying to trade post-up centers–the Milwaukee Bucks have been wanting to dump Greg Monroe forever now, to no avail. Okafor is cheaper and under contract for longer than Monroe, but is his value really that much higher? As Zach Lowe has said previously, teams are using these post-up brutes as sort of sixth men now. Why not keep Okafor and toss him in that role, while dealing Noel for a likely better return? Noel fits so well with any team–he’s the low-usage, defensive stalwart center teams want these days.

Duncan: I would rather trade Nerlens Noel. His rookie contract is coming to an end and he’s about to get paid. The Sixers might as well keep the younger, cheaper big man who may just have more upside.

“Noel is due for an extension, I believe he will be seeking the max, and someone is going to give it to him.” – Dave Dufour (@CoachDaveDu4)

Advith: If it were up to me, I’d trade Okafor. Considering Ben Simmons – the Sixers’ most promising asset – is a ball-dominant player, he’s going to need some agile big men who can roll hard to the rim and catch lobs in order to flourish as a playmaker. Noel is undoubtedly better at those skills than Okafor, who is more of a traditional low-post big man who needs the ball at a high volume a lot in order to be successful. The Sixers could still make Okafor work, as he’s still a talented big man who was deemed the best prospect in his high school class just three years ago. But with Simmons’ arrival, it’s unlikely that Okafor will be able to do the bulk of his interior damage.

Adam: Jahlil Okafor. I just think Nerlens Noel has leak weaknesses you can target, which keeps him on the floor. I love his game, but Okafor’s defensive limitations really bother me. Noel fits alongside better with Joel Embiid and is also more valuable when Embiid sits. Whilst Noel’s recent comments make me hesitant, showing him he’s valued by not moving him isn’t a bad idea. I also think Okafor might have more value on the market, so that helps when putting him on the trade block.