Matters in Philadelphia have gone from bad to worse for Nerlens Noel, a promising big man struggling to find playing time with the Sixers.
Noel, who the Sixers drafted with the sixth pick in 2013, has voiced his concerns with the team several times in 2016. Back in September, Noel questioned his team’s strategy with having three young centers on the same roster, calling the thought “silly” and saying that it “doesn’t really make any sense”.
After playing in just eight minutes last game against the Lakers, Noel went on another rant, telling reporters that he wasn’t an ‘eight-minute player’. The 22-year-old continued, explaining that he doesn’t care which team he’s on — He just wants more playing time.
Noel and Sixers coach Brett Brown recently met about the outburst, with Brown now taking actions of his own:
Nerlens Noel is out of the rotation for the foreseeable future, according to Brett Brown
— Bob Cooney (@BobCooney76) December 18, 2016
Brown says team will go with Embiid and Okafor as starters and Noel not in rotation unless foul trouble or something else occurs
— Bob Cooney (@BobCooney76) December 18, 2016
The Sixers have shopped Noel around the association since the start of last season, hoping to deal him away and acquire a young backcourt asset or pick in return.
It’s widely known that Nerlens Noel is upset in Philadelphia, not believing in their strategy of having three talented, young big man on the same roster.
The Sixers are expected to trade Noel before February’s deadline, and, if Noel isn’t outright demanding a trade yet, one must wonder how that changes with this coaching decision. He’s one of the top targets to watch with the NBA trade season unofficially opening up just the other day.
