The Philadelphia 76ers made a big move on draft night to acquire Kentucky star Nerlens Noel from the New Orleans Pelicans and now that the deal is officially complete, the team introduced the rookie to the media and spoke about the possibility of him not playing until 2014.
The team acquired Noel in a deal with the Pelicans for All-Star Jrue Holiday and after being projected as the number one pick, the Kentucky star dropped due to injury concerns and while the team said that he may not play this season, it hasn't deterred Noel, who said that he is rehabbing six hours per day. General manager Sam Hinkie is working on a new coach and said that the team will do whatever is in Noel's best interest as it comes to playing him or not. The team went through the same issue in a trade last season with Andrew Bynum, who never suited up for the team.
Noel was one of the best young college prospects in the league after averaging 10.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 4.4 blocked shots and 2.1 steals in 32 minutes per game for the Wildcats before getting hurt and now he is recovering from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. He played in just 24 games and that was enough for the Pelicans to pick him and then trade him and now the Sixers will try and figure out what the next move is.
The team could try and deal for someone if Noel can't play and one option could be Omer Asik from the Houston Rockets, as the star said that he may not want to play there now that Dwight Howard was signed. Asik averaged a double-double last season in 82 games and established himself as one of the top centers in the game while playing in Houston. The team said that it has no plans to trade him, but if the right deal came along they could do it. The Rockets have a nice core with Howard, James Harden, Jeremy Lin and Chandler Parsons and moving Asik could net them some nice draft picks or players on the bench.
Noel is just 19-years-old and even if he doesn't play this season, he clearly has a bright future for the franchise. The Sixers are going through big changes and are already without Holiday as well as Nick Young, who signed with the Lakers. The team will look very different next season and whether Noel plays or not, the team will not be one of the contenders in the east.
Noel was SEC defensive player of the year and the Sixers are hoping that style of play will continue as he develops and comes back from his injury. There is a good chance that he will not play this season, but that could mean a healthier future down the line, as the team and Noel do not want a Greg Oden situation. The former number one pick is healthy now after multiple knee surgeries, but he has only played in 82 games and has been seen as a disappointment.
