Sixers Have Little Precedent When Dealing With The Nerlens Noel Situation

The Sixers will have to decide on what to do with Nerlens Noel in the near future, but they don’t have a clear precedent on how to handle this distinctive situation.

The Sixers have a Nerlens Noel-situation. It’s a situation that has broke-off, or even evolved, from something labeled as a front court logjam that was created a little over a year ago. Joel Embiid is blossoming into a star, and Jahlil Okafor has had struggles on the court. Nerlens Noel has been the most complex aspect of this situation.

Far after the media day spout and the seemingly convenient injury, Noel made his return and has played well. Next to Embiid, the embattled big man has been able to feed off the star power of his companion, and elevates his game next to him. His play thus far has shown signs that he could indeed not only be the backup center, but at times come in and play next to the Sixers’ star.

The question is no longer Noel or Okafor. It has shifted to “will the Sixers pay Noel or not?”. And it’s a fair question. Noel’s elite talent on the defensive side of the ball so early in his career will have him sifting through lucrative offers in restricted free agency. Whether the Sixers match the offers or not will determine on how the team views its promising center’s role with the team moving forward.

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The first thought is to ship Noel. Trading him on the downward slope of his trade value would go against the philosophy that has put the Sixers in a position to move forward in rebuilding. Then again, there’s a real argument to be had about the decreasing value of Noel to the Sixers considering the outbreak of stardom showed by Embiid.

Trading at less than maximum value is never desirable, but the Sixers may still reap a few decent assets in return for Noel. The problem is, the trade market for a big man has yet to increase. Finding suitors that have trade pieces with similar value to Noel will be difficult.

If the Toronto Raptors were willing to give up an important role player that can fill salary requirements in a trade, as well as shipping the Clippers’ 2017 pick, Noel could make make his way up north. Portland’s pricey but young aspects could also come in play. Both teams are far from sure things to make a move for Noel.

Another option is to let him walk. Not matching a RFA offer sheet will allow Noel to officially sign with the offering team. This would be criminal in the sense of ‘asset accumulation to return on assets’. The only real idea behind this would be that the Sixers no longer see much value to keeping him around. And that the team would fail to move him before the February trade deadline.

In contrast to that idea, the Sixers could match any offer sheet that comes Noel’s way and keep him with the intent to move him down the road. It’s the sort of failsafe that Portland used in retaining forward Allen Crabbe, who signed a four-year, $75 million offer sheet from the Brooklyn Nets. It was a high price for Crabbe, who has barely pierced through his potential thus far in his career.

But it’s the landscape of today’s NBA. Brooklyn GM Sean Marks has inherited a barren wasteland of a team asset-wise, and he will continue to throw huge money at restricted free agents, Noel included. The issue is that there’s probably more of a market for Crabbe’s $75 million, as there is always a need for versatile wing players. In contrast to the waning big man market that Noel is in, add in the fact that he’ll presumably get upwards of $80 million and the trades get trickier to make.

The Sixers boast a ton of cap room, almost too much in some ways. But they will also have to pay Joel Embiid at the end of next season and have another max rookie in Ben Simmons up for a deal two years after that. While it seems too farsighted, it’s important to note that while the Sixers have two assumed stars in Embiid and Simmons, it is always nice to have room to bring in another top-flight talent that complements both players.

Noel’s potential money making would put a wrinkle into how the Sixers can work the books, but again, he could be a key part into forming depth for this team. Although it seems novice to those who watch basketball, building a bench is harder than most think. Starting off with an elite defensive talent to continue the defensive rampage on a nightly basis from Embiid may be a factor the Sixers can’t possibly overlook.

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Noel’s talent is unquestioned, but his importance to this team can be debated. That’s what makes this situation unique to past restricted free agent situations, and past logjam situations. There may not be that failsafe of moving Noel if the team does decide to match offer sheets. At the same time, letting a potential stud walk for nothing could come as a sting towards the front office’s image. Bryan Colangelo has himself a situation where a lot can go wrong in whatever he decides, but it’s a situation that needs an answer in some sort.