Sixers big man Nerlens Noel will have surgery Monday and is expected to miss three to five weeks, reports Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Noel, who hasn’t played or practiced since October 6th, will have a procedure to take care of an inflamed plica above his left knee. An updated recovery time will be issued after the surgery. Noel, who is also recovering from a strained groin, has appeared in just one game this preseason.
The procedure means Noel will be inactive through the October 31st deadline for a rookie contract extension. A report this week said he and the team have not held any discussions about extending his contract. If no agreement is reached, he will become a restricted free agent next summer. Noel made headlines at the start of camp when he criticized the Sixers for having three young centers on the team and has seen his name mentioned repeatedly in trade rumors.
Eh, the Sixers won’t miss him. They’ll still lose almost every game, with or without him.