.png){kind=small}
The Philadelphia 76ers have had a logjam in the front court since the 2015 NBA Draft. Joel Embiid, Jahlil Okafor, and Nerlens Noel are all talented bigs that are 21 years of age or younger, and that may present a clog in rotation. It hasn't become an issue yet primarily due to the fact that Joel Embiid has yet to play in an NBA game. However, his rehab is going well and he should be making his return next season. When that eventually happens, what should the Sixers do with their big man situation?
The Philadelphia 76ers are talented in their front court, but their backcourt is in need of some help. With Ish Smith emerging as a respectable point guard, the Sixers need more perimeter players that can shoot and take the pressure off of the big men in the paint. With the Sixers having that young talent, the best option would be to trade one of their bigs for a more established perimeter player. The market would be high for Okafor, Noel, and Embiid, but which one should the Sixers give up? There is a case to be made for each of these players.
Nerlens Noel
*Photo via CSSNE
Nerlens Noel would be the player that the Sixers would want to trade the most out of these three. Noel is a great defender, but his offense is limited and he is, arguably, the player with the lowest ceiling out of the group. Also, it has been rumored all season that he cannot play well with Jahlil Okafor as Brett Brown has had problems trying to get Noel involved in the offense. At only 21 years old, Noel would be a great trade asset because of his defense. He is averaging 1.6 blocks and 1.7 steals per game. He can run the floor well and is an athletic big. The Sixers could trade Noel and get some key pieces in return.
Jahlil Okafor
*Photo via AP
It would be hard to make a case for trading away a 20 year old center who is averaging 17.4 points per game and 7.4 rebounds while shooting 49 percent from the field, but if the Sixers were to trade him, it wouldn't be for basketball related reasons. In just his rookie season, Okafor has had several off the court issues. There is video of Okafor knocking out a heckler on camera, an action he was suspended for. Okafor is a great talent with a higher ceiling, but the Sixers can trade him if they believe he can become a problem. It wouldn't be far-fetched for the Sixers to trade him as he would provide them with the most value back.
Joel Embiid
*Photo via USA Today
If the Sixers were to trade one of their big men, Embiid is the most likely to go. Embiid was drafted third in the 2014 NBA Draft. It is now 2016 and Embiid has yet to play in an NBA game. According to NBA scouts, Embiid is a great offensive talent that may be better than Okafor, but his injury history is a great concern and the Sixers are better off trading him before he becomes untradable.
In a perfect world, the Sixers would keep all of these big men and they would be able to play and play well together, but history has shown us that that is a long shot. With the Sixers being in position to draft another big man (Ben Simmons), it remains unlikely that these three players remain together past the off-season. The Sixers are devoid of perimeter players, so their best bet would be to trade one of these players in order to become a playoff team again. The Sixers are on the right path, but one of these big men won't be there with them.