Nerlens Noel Wants Out, or More of the Same News?

In the latest Philadelphia 76ers rumors, Marc Stein of ESPN is saying that Nerlens Noel wants out of Philadelphia, and that the Sixers are likely will appease that.

This season has not started smoothly for Nerlens Noel and the Philadelphia 76ers‘ relationship. Before the season even began, Noel gave explicit quotes to Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer saying that he felt like the situation would not work out between him, Jahlil Okafor, and Nerlens Noel.

Now, many reputable sources are reporting that it does not look like Noel and the team will come to an agreement, and that Noel is likely the center that will be moved by the team. One of those people is Marc Stein, who recently had a quote that shook up the Sixers fan base quite a bit:

“Nothing has changed here. Noel has yet to appear in a game this season after electing to undergo arthroscopic knee surgery last month, but word is he’d still prefer to be shipped to a new address with so many big men to battle for playing time in Philly. Count on the Sixers to accommodate him eventually.”

As with any story that hints at a possible trade or signing, we should be careful to see if it really is a trade rumor or if it simply is speculation or something like that. Here, it’s very hard to tell if what Stein says about the situation is backed by a source, or if this is simply his viewpoint of the situation given the reports that have already been around this season.

Stein saying “Nothing has changed here,” makes me think that Noel’s situation and his commentary on it here is probably not backed by anything much of substance that hasn’t already been reported in the last few weeks. Stein also doesn’t cite any sources (besides saying, “word is”) or anything like that, that’s worth noting as well.

This, just like Stein says in his report, is much of the same, and much of what we already knew regarding Noel and the center. December 15th is the day that players who signed contracts this summer can be included in deals, so if something does happen, it probably won’t be until at least then, and it seems reasonable to not expect the ever-so-patient Bryan Colangelo to make a deal until 2017.

Noel still has yet to play a game this season.