Hoops Habit
Fansided

NBA Trade Rumors: Best Landing Spots For Nerlens Noel

By Maxwell Ogden

Apr 5, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Nerlens Noel (4) warms up before action against the New Orleans Pelicans at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 5, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Nerlens Noel (4) warms up before action against the New Orleans Pelicans at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 7
Next
Apr 5, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) and guard C.J. McCollum (3) walk up the court during the fourth quarter of the game against the Sacramento Kings at Sleep Train Arena. The Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Sacramento Kings 115-107. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 5, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) and guard C.J. McCollum (3) walk up the court during the fourth quarter of the game against the Sacramento Kings at Sleep Train Arena. The Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Sacramento Kings 115-107. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports /

Honorable Mention: Portland Trail Blazers

The Portland Trail Blazers were the most pleasant surprise of the 2015-16 NBA season. Despite losing five starters—Arron Afflalo, LaMarcus Aldridge, Nicolas Batum, Robin Lopez, and Wesley Matthews—Portland made the playoffs by reloading with competitive role players.

Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum established themselves as offensive stars, but Portland will need a defensive anchor to maintain its perch in the Western Conference.

Portland will likely decline any trade offer that makes an attempt at McCollum, and Lillard is entirely off limits. The Trail Blazers do have a number of quality young players, however, and that’s enough to begin the discussions.

Allen Crabbe, Maurice Harkless, and Mason Plumlee are all attractive assets, with the latter two currently residing in restricted free agency.

Portland likely won’t have the pieces to get this trade done, but it’s certainly worth exploring. Noel could be the defensive force that the Trail Blazers need to solidify what’s already a very solid rotation.

Noel may be out of Portland’s reach, but it’d be worth exploring this move.

Next: Still A Need

Home/NBA Rumors