Philadelphia 76ers power forward Nerlens Noel remains a hot commodity with less than two months before the annual NBA trade deadline. Noel has been mentioned in numerous trade rumors since the season started because he has been competing for minutes with Joel Embiid and Jahlil Okafor.
Noel has been performing well as of late and looks comfortable playing as a backup center, CBS Sports reported. The 22-year-old forward posted 10.4 points on top of 4.0 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game in their last five games.
The 76ers are either trying to make Noel more comfortable or just trying to showcase him to interested teams. The 76ers have already made it no secret earlier in the season that they could move Noel or Okafor, with the former as the most likely odd man out.
In the event the 76ers decide to trade Noel, the San Antonio Spurs could be a good fit for the former Kentucky standout, Bleacher Report reported. The Spurs could be forced to part ways with veteran Pau Gasol if they decide to trade for Noel, but it could turn out to be a good a deal for San Antonio.
Losing Gasol could hurt them in the playoffs where experience plays a factor. Their offensive dynamics could also change by giving up a two-way player in Gasol for a player known for his defensive prowess.
Noel is just 22 and playing under an experienced coach like Gregg Popovich could help the third-year guard become one of the best rim protectors in the league. Noel could also be a good frontcourt partner to LaMarcus Aldridge, who has become that main man inside the pain after Tim Duncan's retirement.
However, the 76ers might not be interested in acquiring Gasol since it will not unclog their frontline rotation. Unless they find a taker for Okafor, the 76ers might look for a third team in any deal with the Spurs, with the report mentioning the Phoenix Suns as a possible third party.
The Suns are also looking to part ways with point guard Brandon Knight. Knight could be a good fit to the 76ers, who need more offensive firepower. On the other hand, Gasol could be a good mentor to their young big men like Alex Len, Marquese Chriss and Dragan Bender.