Nerlens Noel made his feelings about the Sixers' roster clear before the start of training camp. He didn't think the current state of three bigs could be successful and felt a change was necessary.
With the deadline for Noel's rookie contract extension approaching on Oct. 31, a week after opening night, the team has not had conversations about it, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.
"It's not really something that we've discussed given some of the concerns that I think Nerlens has had right now," president of basketball operations Bryan Colangelo said. "There's been very little, if any, discussion with his agents about any extension scenarios. But, I'll just leave it at that."
After missing his rookie year because of an ACL injury, Noel is entering his third season with the Sixers. Last season, the team struggled to find ways for Noel and Jahlil Okafor to share the floor. Now that Joel Embiid is healthy and has been starting at the five spot, that position is even more crowded.
"I don't see a way it can work," Noel said at Media Day. "It's just a logjam. You have three young, talented centers that can play 30-plus minutes a night."
Noel appeared in the Sixers' first preseason game and has been sidelined since with a left groin strain. Brown does not expect him to be ready for the Oct. 26 regular-season opener.
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The Sixers are building toward a new direction and evaluating how to create a more balanced team. That assessment, though, has been hampered by injuries. In addition to Noel, Okafor has not played in the preseason (right knee), and Ben Simmons is sidelined by a Jones fracture in his right foot. These three players factored heavily into how the Sixers would shape their frontcourt. Without the full picture, it is more difficult to make a trade or lock in a player to a longer deal.
Noel is earning $4,384,490 this season. His contract has a qualifying offer of $5,848,910 for next season.
