While the Sixers are still very much in their rebuilding phase, players such as T.J. McConnell and Robert Covington are in the position to find out what their respective niches are in the league, Bob Cooney of The Philadelphia Inquirer writes. Some teams may be watching, as Cooney points out, so McConnell and Covington, two players who have proven to be capable in the league, can look at their situations as sort of auditions in some way. In any event, the increased roles players have with the Sixers would likely not exist on another squad and it is a good opportunity for some to develop and learn if they belong in the league, Cooney surmises.
Here is more from Philadelphia:
- Nerlens Noel had to adjust on mental and emotional levels when the Sixers replaced former GM Sam Hinkie, who told Noel that he wouldn’t trade him, as the big man discussed with The Vertical’s Adrian Wojnarowski (podcast link). Among the other topics worth listening in on include Noel’s thoughts on the Sixers’ center logjam, and Noel acknowledging that communication could have been better between him and team when he was working out on his own during the offseason.
- While talk of making the playoffs is still premature for the Sixers, having Noel, who is known as a solid defender, lead the second unit along with Dario Saric and Gerald Henderson or Nik Stauskas has yielded positive results, Cooney writes in a separate column.
1. TJ Maxx = Steve Blake
2. I am a Prokafor. But to keep Nerlens, I would trade Jahlil for a draft pick that gets us TJ Leaf. Chicago owns CHI17 and SAC17 (x>10)….
Wow an expert. Shut up kid u don’t know what your talking about
While it am unsure of salary, Noel seems like the perfect fit for the warriors. While Zaza has been surprisingly good and a good fit, the Warriors need to big man who blocks and rebounds. Green and Durant are good but with a noelesqe player they will be unstoppable. If know kids like to pretend the Warriors are a super team, but signing one free agent doesn’t make a super team. Get Noel and dominate the league for 2 years…
Sixers aren’t going to donate him to the Warriors. Since he has come back, he has 17th best hollinger PER in the league. My feeling is they keep him and match an offseason offer if someone goes after him. It’s clear as day he’s a better fit with embiid than okafor. Okafor is more likely on the block.
Didn’t say anything about donating. The Warriors have young talant and draft picks, and while the draft picks won’t be early round, the Warriors have the rest of the lineup figured out to the point where they could match or beat most offers without sacrificing the future. If never expect to see Noel on the warriors, but he’s still a great fit and the 76ers not only have too many big screen, but are and have been the worst team in the league for what seems like forever. If I’m the 76ers getting someone like McCaw to play with Simmons and Embiid. Just my 2 cents.
Noel would be perfect on the Warriors, no doubt. But I can’t imagine how high their team salary would be next season. Curry, Durant, and Noel would all be FAs with Green and Klay already making big money.