In addition to being without rookie Ben Simmons for the next few months, the Philadelphia 76ers also expect to begin the 2016-17 season without Nerlens Noel.
Said head coach Brett Brown of Noel, who is dealing with a groin injury, per Tom Moore of Calkins Moore:
#Sixers Brown: 'I don't believe' Noel will be ready for opener.
— Tom Moore (@TomMoorePhilly) October 15, 2016
Welp.
Fortunately for the Sixers, I guess, they have plenty of bigs to spare, namely Joel Embiid and Jahlil Okafor. Embiid isn’t expected to play a ton to start the year, but he’s been on the floor during the preseason and even seen his minutes limit increased.
Still, with Embiid being an overall unknown, losing Noel even for a short period of time stings. He is, as of now, Philly’s best interior defender. And even if Embiid takes that crown from him, it’s Okafor who will see more immediate time.
This doesn’t figure to help Noel’s trade value, either. His market worth is unclear as it is, since the Sixers clearly need to move at least one member of their frontcourt pileup, and also because Noel will be a restricted free agent; adding an injury to fold only complicates the matter.
Granted, this doesn’t sound like a serious setback. And again, it’s not like the Sixers don’t have the surrounding size to cobble together a frontcourt rotation. Noel’s absence, however long, arguably makes Brown’s job easier to an extent.
But that doesn’t change the most fundamental issue here: Phill will now begin the year with two of its projected best players watching from the sideline.
