Rumors abound that the San Antonio Spurs could target Philadelphia 76ers big men Jahlil Okafor and Nerlens Noel as the team searches for a potential replacement for retired legend Tim Duncan.
The 40-year-old Duncan retired in July after 19 years in the NBA, all with the Spurs, and the ballclub is now on a hunt for a prospective substitute as they head into a season for the first time since 1997 without the former Wake Forest standout.
Sportsblog speculated that San Antonio may look eastward for possible options as the team targets the Sixers' Okafor and Noel, both young centers who are rumored to be on the trading block in Philly.
There had been speculations since the beginning of summer that either one or both of the said twenty-something big men are going to be dealt before the new season begins as Philadelphia is currently overloaded with young frontcourt players.
The selection of Ben Simmons as the top pick in last June's draft, the arrival of Dario Saric from Europe, and the impending NBA debut of 2014 third overall pick Joel Embiid were the causes of the logjam of young bigs in the Sixers' frontline and trading Okafor and Noel is reportedly aimed to balance the roster.
The article said that the Spurs could trade veteran guards Patty Mills and Danny Green and one of their protected draft picks to the Sixers in exchange for either Okafor or Noel, although it suggested that Noel is the wiser choice as he is "cheaper and hasn't been involved in much off the court issues".
Meanwhile, Fansided reported that the Spurs could pursue Noel in order to have a big man "to grow with rest of the young core" as lacking such "could be problematic for the long term success of the franchise".
The report even mentioned that "Noel's defensive stats are eerily similar to" David Robinson, but is actually still a long way from the Admiral's actual effectiveness and presence on the floor.
What is certain, though, is with Duncan now retired, the Spurs are in for a "micro-rebuild" in order to continue their postseason success. The team has qualified in the playoffs for 19 straight seasons and they will definitely do everything to avoid snapping that streak.
