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Philadelphia 76ers looking to deal big man if the price is right

By Kyle Tomasi

Feb 26, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Nerlens Noel (4) celebrates with center Jahlil Okafor (8) after a score against the Washington Wizards during the second quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 26, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Nerlens Noel (4) celebrates with center Jahlil Okafor (8) after a score against the Washington Wizards during the second quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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The past two seasons, the Philadelphia 76ers have taken a big man with their first round pick and it might be time to get rid of their very top-heavy front court.

The Philadelphia 76ers have definitely been going through a “rebuilding” phase for the past number of years and it might be time to move on from some of those pieces that they thought could be franchise players.

In 2013, the 76ers acquired the rights to Kentucky big man Nerlens Noel from the New Orleans Hornets (at the time) for Jrue Holiday and the 42nd pick in the 2013 pick. Since being with the 76ers, Noel has been a solid role-player averaging 10.5 points per game, 8.1 rebounds per game and 1.7 blocks per game.

In 2014, they selected Kansas Jayhawk big man Joel Imbiid with the third pick overall and Imbiid has yet to see any minutes for the 76ers as he has been injury ridden the past two seasons.

Fast forward one year, the 76ers take Duke Blue Devils big man Jahlil Okafor. See a trend here? Okafor produced for the organization in his lone year in the NBA averaging 17.5 points per game, 7.0 rebounds per game and 1.2 blocks per game.

This year, the organization drafted freshman phenom and potential rookie of the year Ben Simmons from LSU with the first pick in the draft. Simmons is a 6’10” point-forward who has dazzled the summer league with his court vision and ability to score off the dribble with either hand.

Now, having three big men on the roster and a typical five-man rotation that holds one position for a center, the 76ers have some things to figure out heading into the season.

President of basketball operations and general manager Bryan Colangelo understands the top-heavy front court and is willing to shop one of the three for the right price.

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“There’s no question you can look at our roster and say we have some unbalance,” said Bryan Colangelo who talked to SiriusXM NBA Radio. “We’re top heavy. We have some good talent there.

“We have to figure out what we’re going to do with everybody. When you look at the calls coming in, quite frankly, everyone’s trying to poach a big man from us.”

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