Nerlens Noel is reportedly close to being traded by the Philadelphia 76ers and the Boston Celtics is said to be the number one candidate to land the promising young center.

Noel has been the subject of many trade rumors since the beginning of the season after he told reporters during the Sixers' preseason media day he thinks it is "silly" for the club to have three starting centers in its roster.

"I think it's just silly... this situation that we are in now with three starting centers," Noel said in September, via Bleacher Report. "With the departure of (former general manager and president) Sam Hinkie, I would have figured that management would be able to get something done this summer."

Noel later admitted that he would be fine if he eventually gets traded, but he hoped that the Sixers will handle the situation properly.

However, the Sixers management has kept all three players after more than a month into the new season and Noel's stance on the issue has not changed.

"I don't think the roster's changed," Noel recently said.

The sixth overall pick of the 2013 draft is yet to play this season after undergoing surgery last month to repair an inflamed plica above his left knee. He was ruled out for three to five weeks, but the healing process seemed to be taking longer than expected.

CBS Local Boston cited Celtics play-by-play announcer Mike Gorman saying that the Celtics could be willing to offer one of their future first-round draft picks to the Sixers for Noel, who is said to be a player that "would immediately fill a big area of need in Boston".

Gorman specified Boston's 2017 first-pick from Brooklyn as the pick that would likely interest the Sixers as next summer's draft is "expected to be loaded with top talent". The Nets are 6-14 and second from the last place in the Eastern Conference at the moment, so the pick will probably end up as a lottery selection.