The Philadelphia 76ers are expected to be one of the more active teams at the trading deadline and some names that could get moved includes Evan Turner, Spencer Hawes and Thaddeus Young and with teams like the Phoenix Suns and Miami Heat possibly interested, the team could start making moves and the return of injured rookie Nerlens Noel could spark that as well.
According to Pro Basketball Talk and ESPN.com, Noel has been cleared for basketball activities and could return to the court after the All-Star break and with that in mind, the Sixers may be more open to making trades at the deadline. Noel was originally drafted by the Pelicans and was traded to the Sixers and with reports that he could return sooner than expected, the team may be more willing to deal at the deadline as it gets closer to the February 20 date.
The Sixers have some solid assets in Hawes, Young and Turner and a team like the Suns could be a nice move for Young, as they have shown interest in him and they have extra draft picks after making the Luis Scola deal and the Eric Bledsoe trade and that is what the 76ers would like to have more than anything. The team may end up being accused of tanking if they make these moves, but Turner doesn't appear to be in the long term plans for the team and he is one that could go. The Suns have reportedly been interested in Young and with Bledsoe injured there is a chance that Turner could go as well, while the Miami Heat also could be interested after they pulled off the move for Toney Douglas in the Boston Celtics trade.
Noel was the number six overall pick in the draft and before he was injured at Kentucky many thought that he would be the number one overall pick and now he is in Philly working on making a comeback. According to ESPN.com, there is no set timetable for his return, but with Michael Carter-Williams playing well as a rookie and the team looking towards the draft to rebuild, Noel could be the foundational player the Sixers are looking for.
"He is doing excellent, and the team is taking good care of him," Dr. James Andrews told ESPN.com on Wednesday.
