Tag: Nerlens Noel

Boston Celtics trade rumble heat check: Renewed interest in Kevin Durant? Grant Williams inquiries?

We’re taking the temperature on the most recent rumbles on what we’re hearing about Boston’s trade plans.

With the 2023 NBA trade deadline just days away from arriving, the Boston Celtics are finding themselves entangled in a number of trade rumors as they so often seem to be.

Some of them make all the sense in the world, some could if you squint very hard, and others simply make no sense whatsoever. So we decided to dive into the most current trade rumbles we have heard with ties to the Celtics ahead of the 3 pm ET moratorium on making deals in the 2022-23 NBA season on this coming Thu., Feb. 9, and grade them based on how likely we think there is to be some fire behind each instance of trade smoke.

So with all that said, let’s get started.

Celtics reportedly interest in Detroit Pistons veteran big man Nerlens Noel

While seen by some as a buyout candidate, could Boston having trade interest tell us something about the team’s thinking elsewhere on the roster?

The Boston Celtics have been looking into the availability of Detroit Pistons big man Nerlens Noel according to The Athletic’s James L. Edwards III.

The Celtics are not the only team asking after Noel, however. Edwards reports the Miami Heat, Denver Nuggets, Dallas Mavericks, Sacramento Kings and Philadelphia 76ers have also inquired after the Malden, Massachusetts native.

Noel has not been playing much with the Pistons this season. He has appeared in just 13 contests with Detroit, and might be better suited as a potential buyout target given the depth of the Pistons’ frontcourt. Jalen Duren, Isaiah Stewart, Marvin Bagley III, Isaiah Livers and Kevin Knox are ahead of him in terms of minutes.

The 6-foot-11, 220-pound 28-year-old has eight seasons of experience with career averages of 7.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.5 blocks per game. He is earning $9.2 million this season and has a player option he will presumably pick up for 9.6 million next season.

We think it more likely Boston will pursue him in the buyout marketplace rather than in an outright deal given what Boston would need to send out to create a trade that makes sense.

The Celtics might be amenable to flipping the contract of injured veteran swingman Danilo Gallinari if they are concerned about having the Italian forward’s salary on their books next season if there are concerns about his ability to contribute.

If that were the case, an offer built around Gallo, Justin Jackson and perhaps a second-round pick might be what Boston hopes to accomplish with a call to Detroit.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

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Report: Sixers have called Pistons about acquiring big man Nerlens Noel

The Philadelphia 76ers have called the Detroit Pistons and have inquired about acquiring Nerlens Noel.

It’s obvious what the theme is for the Philadelphia 76ers as they approach the Feb. 9 trade deadline. They need a reliable backup center behind Joel Embiid, and they need to find one quickly.

A few names have popped up recently. A former Sixer is among the latest to have drawn interest from president Daryl Morey and the front office: Nerlens Noel of the Detroit Pistons.

The Pistons are a rebuilding team who are focused on developing Isaiah Stewart and Jalen Duren. Noel is a veteran who doesn’t get much playing time. He’s averaging 2.5 points and 2.8 rebounds while playing in 13 games for Detroit.

Per James Edwards of The Athletic:

Per league sources, the Heat, Nuggets, Mavericks, Kings, 76ers and Celtics have recently called the Pistons and inquired about Noel.

Noel, who spent his first 2.5 seasons with the Sixers, would bring exactly what Philadelphia needs in a backup big man. He’s an elite rim protector with a career average of 1.5 blocks per game. He is a big lob threat which is what James Harden needs in the pick-and-roll, and he has a great relationship with Embiid.

With the deadline being at 3 p.m. EST on Thursday, trade talks will begin to heat up for teams around the league.

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Ranking the 20 most interesting NBA players who could get traded and where each may go

A look at the players who could be dealt by Thursday’s NBA trade deadline.

The NBA trade deadline is one week from Thursday, and while it might seem quieter than normal, there could still be a lot of activity.

Even if there isn’t a looming blockbuster move like when the Nets and Sixers swapped James Harden and Ben Simmons last season, there are teams around the league that could have an entirely different roster before the beginning of the All-Star break.

While there are some obvious sellers (e.g. Pistons, Hornets, Spurs, Rockets), others (e.g. Raptors, Pacers, Jazz) have slightly less clear intentions.

Based on the latest rumors and intel provided by insiders around the NBA, these are the players considered most likely to get traded — and where each player is rumored to go.

But remember: The trade deadline is always full of surprises. No one in the league predicted the Kings would have traded Tyrese Haliburton last season! So in addition to these players, expect the unexpected.

4 backup center options Sixers should look into before trade deadline

Here are four backup center options the Philadelphia 76ers should look into before the Feb. 9 trade deadline.

The Feb. 9 trade deadline is right around the corner in the NBA. Now is the time for every team to figure out how it wants to handle the deadline and how they are going to move forward.

The Philadelphia 76ers, led by stars Joel Embiid and James Harden, have their eyes set on a title. Their starting lineup is one of the best in the league, and they have some really good role players in the supporting cast.

However, that pesky backup center spot continues to be an issue. Montrezl Harrell has been great offensively but not so great defensively. It’s obvious Paul Reed hasn’t earned the trust of the coaching staff.

Therefore, the Sixers should probably make a move at the deadline. Here are four options that make sense for the Sixers:

Lakers have talked to Pistons about Bojan Bodganovic and Nerlens Noel

The Lakers have reportedly talked to the Pistons about a package that would give them much-improved 3-point shooting and frontcourt depth.

The NBA’s trade deadline is less than a month away, and pretty soon teams around the league will start to get serious about making deals.

The Los Angeles Lakers have been actively hitting the phones, looking for a trade that would make them championship contenders again. However, they haven’t found anything palatable yet.

Howard Beck of Sports Illustrated reported L.A. has talked to the Detroit Pistons about not only acquiring sharpshooter Bojan Bogdanovic but also center Nerlens Noel.

Via Sports Illustrated (h/t Lakers Daily):

“I’ve heard the Lakers and Pistons have discussed a deal that would include both Bogdanović and Nerlens Noel. Since the Pistons are demanding draft assets in any deal for Bogdanović, it’s sort of a given that the Lakers would have to surrender a first-round pick to make a deal. Maybe they make a second deal to fortify the rotation further. Will they be willing to trade both picks that are currently trade-eligible? The sense around the league is they won’t. But we’ll see.”

Bogdanovic and Noel would be an interesting package. The 6-foot-7 veteran forward is having a career season, averaging 21.2 points per game while shooting 41.5% from 3-point range on 5.9 attempts per game.

He could be a major answer to the Lakers’ 3-point shooting woes. They rank 26th in 3-point shooting percentage, and when they lost to the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday, the Mavs loaded the paint whenever LeBron James had the ball, as they knew the Lakers wouldn’t be able to hit from the outside.

Noel is only averaging 11.8 minutes a game this season, but he could give L.A. a shot-blocking center in limited minutes. He is putting up 8.6 rebounds and 2.3 blocked shots a game per 36 minutes.

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Sixers’ Joel Embiid, Pistons’ Nerlens Noel discuss their friendship

Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid and Detroit Pistons big man Nerlens Noel discuss their close friendship.

PHILADELPHIA — The Detroit Pistons’ visit to the Wells Fargo Center on Tuesday to take on the Philadelphia 76ers marked a reunion of two close friends: Philadelphia star Joel Embiid and Detroit big man Nerlens Noel.

Noel began his career with the Sixers. He and Embiid were together for 2.5 seasons before Philadelphia traded Noel to the Dallas Mavericks.

The No. 6 pick in the 2013 NBA draft, Noel helped Embiid through injuries and gave him pointers to help him succeed. As he made his return to Philadelphia on Tuesday, he reminisced on his time with the franchise.

“Philadelphia is like a second home to me,” said Noel. “I got a lot of memories here. A lot of relationships from Joel, especially. Having him come in and helping him learn a couple of early-on things when he was a rookie being a year or two after him. I took a lot of pride in that and helping him build the foundation that he has today.”

Noel drew the start on Tuesday with Detroit being down both Isaiah Stewart and Jalen Duren. He was assigned to guard Embiid. He got to the big fella a bit early with a steal, but Embiid ended up going for 36 points and 11 rebounds in the win for the Sixers.

“It was good,” Embiid said afterward of facing Noel. “That’s my guy. Obviously, a lot of good years with him. It’s good playing against him. He got me a few times with him reaching, so I was kind of pissed about it because that’s really all he does defensively, but I’m just glad to him get minutes.”

Embiid is obviously a much different player than when Noel was in Philadelphia. He has catapulted himself into the MVP conversations on a regular basis.

“I would just think his approach to the game,” Noel said of what’s different with Embiid. “His level of maturity from year one to year even two, three. Every year I’ve seen he’s just taking great steps because his talent was obviously always there, but he’s become just a leader. Beyond a leader. Someone that gives himself and his body, his everything to the team.”

Noel also believes Embiid should get more MVP love.

“I don’t know why he’s not higher up there in the MVP votes,” he added. “Somehow the media doesn’t show enough love, but you can see it every time he’s out there. He gives his all.”

At the end of the day, Noel has been able to carve out a nice career in the league and he is thankful for his time with Embiid and the Sixers.

“He’s a great player,” he finished. “Hall of Fame future and the whole coaching staff front office, everybody. I got great relationships and I valued my time here a lot.”

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8 NBA players who missed time as rookies, like Chet Holmgren, but still found success as pros

Multiple players came back to win Rookie of the Year.

Let’s face it: Injuries suck! There is no other way to put it except to say that they are the worst part of sports.

After he looked incredibly promising during his time at NBA 2K23 Summer League in Las Vegas, fans were excited to see Chet Holmgren suit up for the Oklahoma City Thunder. He was one of the immediate favorites to win the NBA’s Rookie of the Year, though those bets were since voided.

It’s a bummer for Holmgren, who injured his foot while playing in a Pro-Am game. But it’s not all bad news. The Thunder are now well-positioned to land top draft prospect Victor Wembanyama. Plus, just because Holmgren is hurt now does not mean his career is ruined.

Rookie seasons are important for development. But there are several notable players who got hurt during their first year in the league but went on to have great success for the remainder of their careers.

Trades that make a lot of sense: Kyrie Irving to the Lakers and more

With free agency just three days away, HoopsHype’s salary cap expert Yossi Gozlan came up with several trades he’d like to share.

With free agency just three days away, HoopsHype’s salary cap expert Yossi Gozlan came up with several trades he’d like to share.

Trades that make a lot of sense: Kyrie Irving to the Lakers and more

With free agency just three days away, HoopsHype’s salary cap expert Yossi Gozlan came up with several trades he’d like to share.