FanPost

Noel for Bledsoe



I actually am not convinced that we have too many bigs so I'd keep them all. But Jerry's Kid announced months ago that he wants greater roster balance, Nerlens is "suffering" through his winter of discontent (though I'm pretty certain that $20 million per year would soothe his feelings), and Jah looks lost; in fact, for the last three games he has apparently actually been lost - DNP/CD. So with that in mind I think this might work:

Noel to the Suns for Eric Bledsoe, who's under contract for $15 million per year through 2019. ( If that seems too rich a return for Noel we could instead move Noel and Sergio to Suns for Bledsoe and Tyson Chandler with the idea being that we'd accept Chandler's bad contract to make the deal. Chandler's contract is for $13.5 million per year through 2019 so the Suns may view unloading it as a way to offset the big contract Nerlens will likely command as a RFA even though they're currently well under the cap. Both trades work in ESPN trade machine.)

I think it makes sense for both teams.


DEFENSE -The Suns are wretched defensively - only the unwatchable Nets allow more points per game according to ESPN. The Suns appear soft, slow, disinterested, and they clearly lack rim protection. Additionally, despite the depth of this year's draft, it doesn't offer the defensive anchor the Suns need. If Noel was in this year's draft he'd be the first center taken and if the Suns acquire him he's a perfect fit, an elite rim protector to help change the team's culture at that end of the floor.

For the Sixers, Bledsoe apparently isn't quite the defender he was earlier in his career but he's still a huge upgrade over Sergio. In fact, if you're reading this then you're breathing which means YOU are a tremendous defensive upgrade over Sergio. When Simmons returns, Bledsoe could matchup against PGs as needed.

OFFENSE- Bledsoe seems like an excellent compliment to Simmons in the backcourt. He's an explosive athlete, a combo guard who can create his own shot and is having a borderline all star season. Just ask Charles. While only an average 3 point shooter it's certainly possible that he'll get cleaner looks with Embiid and Simmons than he currently gets in Phoenix and that his average could improve. And don't underestimate the importance of shot creation and Bledsoe's ability to play the point when Simmons rests. Brown has mentioned several times, including after the Nets game, that the Sixers labor to set screens to free guys up because they don't have anyone who can beat you off the bounce. Bledsoe provides that. For more detail on Bledsoe's season:

As for Noel, well if he could play offense he wouldn't be available. He'd be Embiid. (OK, he still wouldn't be Embiid. No one can be Embiid. But you know what I mean.) But if the Sixers didn't have Embiid and if they were well coached, they'd find a way to utilize Nerlen's ability in pick and roll situations. It's the Ish Smith argument. The Deandre Jordan philosophy. If the Suns spread the floor with shooters and creators they can utilize Noel as a complimentary player on that end and as an anchor on the defensive side.

DRAFT -Much like the Sixers perceived logjam of centers, the Suns roster is overloaded with guards (Bledsoe, Booker, Knight, Ulis) and wings ( Warren, Chriss, Bender) but the team is facing a draft dominated by guard and wing prospects. Let's say the ping pong balls bounce their way and they draft #1 and choose Fultz. Now what? Fultz is a great talent so I guess they bring Bledsoe off the bench and still play pathetic team defense. Has the needle moved in any meaningful way toward a championship? Wouldn't Noel anchoring the defense with Fultz at PG be vastly better?

For Philly, well Embiid certainly doesn't think we're getting a top 3 pick; he thinks we're making the playoffs. And while that's not true (insane and beautiful, yes. True? No.) it does serve to highlight the fact that the Sixers very well may win 30 games this season. For arguments sake, let's say Simmons returns on 2/1/17. At that point there will be 35 games left in the season and certainly we could play .500 basketball. Those last games on the schedule are mostly Eastern Conference opponents - we play the Nets 2x, Mavs 2x, Heat 3x, Magic 2x. Factor in that a number of teams like the Mavs and Heat are ,or by then may be, tanking. The Lakers, TWolves, Nuggets, and certainly the Suns themselves could all plausibly tank; with the mysterious disappearance of Derrick Rose, throw the Knicks into the possible tank mix and suddenly 25 wins may be too many this year. ( I guess Adam Silver believes Hinkie is orchestrating a league-wide conspiracy from a Starbucks in Silicon Valley. Think he'll fire Cuban or Riley or Phil?)

Last year, 30 wins got the Pels the 6th pick in the draft, Buddy Heild. Fortunately, this year's draft appears much deeper. Let's say the Sixers draft 6th and 7th. DraftExpress has Monk and Isaac in those spots and frankly they're great fits. But they may not be ready to start right away. Bledsoe grooming Monk to take over 12 or 18 months later and Bledsoe in '18 as the seasoned veteran off the bench when the team is getting to 50 wins is an attractive blueprint to me.

AND, just to provide a rapturous moment for the Hinkie Cartel, I'll point out that trading for Bledsoe increases the Sixers' ..wait for it...wait for it...OPTIONALITY!!! Show a little self control guys. By moving toward a more balanced roster the team has more options. No need to choose a guard for "fit" with Simmons. If Josh Jackson or Jayson Tatum or Jonathan Isaac is BPA, take him. You can get your guard with your later pick.

AGE- Noel at 22 yrs old fits a more plausible timeframe for contention for the Suns than Bledsoe (27) does. Phoenix has a talented young core - Booker 20, Chriss 19, Bender 19, Warren 23, Ulis 21, 2017 draft pick- but is nowhere near contention in the West and by the time they are playoff ready, Bledsoe's contract will be up, he'll be 30 years old, and the Suns will get nothing in return. Noel, on the other hand, can grow with the core.

On the surface it might appear that Bledsoe's age would be a poor fit for the Sixers, much as it could be for the Suns, since both teams are in the midst of rebuilding with extremely young teams. But I think the Sixers situation is very different. Mainly because Embiid is very different. Embiid and Simmons could become superstar level players, two of the Big Three that are presumably needed to win titles. Phoenix has no one at that level. In addition, the West is a much tougher, deeper conference and playoff contention is more difficult to come by. The Sixers are immeasurably closer to playoff and championship contention and therefore Bledsoe' age is an advantage on a young team that could use veterans.

At 27 years old, on a reasonable, short contract ($15 million a year through 2019) Bledsoe is an ideal fit for the Sixers. As a practical matter, it works for JK who was brought in to accelerate "The Process". A Man of Action. He's been patient but he must be anxious to do SOMETHING, to impact the team, to push for the playoffs, albeit a year too late for Embiid's tastes. As for those who would rather add free agents, how old do you think they'd be?

FREE AGENCY- Neither team should expect to be a destination for max level free agents in 2017. Phoenix can offer great weather and Charles lobbying for an all star team berth but as I said before I don't believe they have even one building block yet much less two or three. The Suns GM is probably entering hot seat territory which probably makes FAs and their agents view the team cautiously. I don't think the Suns could get Noel level value - shot blocking, steals, transition D, youth- on the FA market. The trade makes sense.

For the Sixers, if JK COULD sign an FA, the player might look much like Bledsoe. For example, I'd love to have Kyle Lowry but he'll probably cost $20 million a year for 5 years. And Kyle will be 31 in March. Bledsoe, 3 years younger, at less money for fewer years makes more sense and is also more realistic. In addition, the contract doesn't prohibit signing FAs, just in case Steph really wants to join the Sixers. In a conversation with JK at the Sixers Draft Preview Open House in May- he was clear that he wanted short term contracts in 2016, max contracts for 2 or 3 stars in '17. He probably anticipated we'd have Simmons and a better record to attract FAs. That does not mean JK doesn't want to add players in their prime, like Bledsoe. In fact, a pile of money in JK's hands is a frightening thing. See Raptors, Toronto. But the new CBA makes it LESS likely players will leave their existing teams- especially for the leap of faith the Sixers present with the worst 3 year record in NBA history, a coach who has been shaky at best, and a front office with zero track record of success (Only Jerry would hire Jerry's Kid.) Bledsoe takes the place of a FA- a young veteran in his prime. The cheap short contract is a bonus. Remember, to sign Noel, you're probably looking at $20 million per through 2021. That's a lot of money for a guy who spent the first couple months of the season on strike.

There are undoubtedly issues with the trade. Bledsoe has had meniscus problems with both knees including having no meniscus in one. How to measure that risk? What if the trade can only be done with Tyson Chandler (34 yrs old) included? Is that a deal breaker or could he be useful in working with Jah (screening, rebounding, "strategic" hard fouls, defensive rotations, attitude) as well as giving the team some minutes? I'm no cap expert. Would his contract be an albatross? I'm guessing Bledsoe makes Henderson AND Sergio expendable so the team can save that money. Dunno. Maybe Bledsoe is a favorite son in Phoenix and they'd never trade him. Dunno because I don't (random corny Beatles reference) follow the Suns.

I DO know that I like this trade a lot more than the awful trade that someone named Kevin OConnor posed on The Ringer: Sixers receive McCollum from Blazers for...Noel, our 2017 1st rounder with no protection, the Kings 2019 1st rounder unprotected, and multiple 2nd round picks.

As I said, I'd keep all the bigs. Sure Nerlens would be pissed for a while but Don Draper was right, that's what the money is for. It's too early to be certain that Embiid's body can hold up over an entire season and even if it does maybe 30 minutes a night during the regular season optimizes his ability while reducing the potential for stress fractures. That leaves 18 mins for Nerlens, plus play them together for 7 minutes and he's at 25/game. Maybe Jo always sits back to backs or takes scheduled rests. What's the rush? Too much money for 25 minutes a night? Then JK can always reassess in 2018.

I would NOT make this trade but if JK is insistent on trading Noel then Bledsoe may work.

Noel for Bledsoe straight up? I'd pull the trigger.

Accepting Chandler to get it done? Probably not.

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