Are the Sixers looking to trade a big man?
With the team’s surplus of frontcourt talent, it’s been a heavily debated question.
Now there’s some substance to it.
A package deal is being discussed between the Sixers and Hawks revolving around Nerlens Noel and Atlanta point guard Jeff Teague, according to a report Thursday night by The Vertical’s Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports. However, an agreement is not imminent, per the report.
Noel, who turned 22 years old in April, averaged 11.1 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.5 blocks per game in his second NBA season. In 67 games, the 6-foot-11 power forward shot 52.1 percent from the floor.
Coming off an All-Star season in 2014-15, Teague, 27, averaged 15.7 points and 5.9 assists per game in 2015-16, while setting career highs in three-point field goals made (110) and three-point field goal percentage (40.0).
Teague can be an unrestricted free agent after next season.
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With Noel, Jahlil Okafor and Joel Embiid on the roster, it appears inevitable that one (Noel or Okafor) will be dealt. However, the major obstacle is Embiid, who has yet to play an NBA game, having missed his first two seasons with a foot injury. Any deal is a risk, but the uncertainty with Embiid, who by all accounts appears on track to play this season, makes trading Noel or Okafor that much riskier.
That said, the Sixers clearly need a point guard, and the Hawks have a young backup in 22-year-old Dennis Schroder, who last season averaged 11.0 points and 4.4 assists in 20.3 minutes per game.
