5 trade destinations for Nerlens Noel
By John Buhler
The 2016-17 New York Knicks are a decent team with realistic Eastern Conference Playoff expectations. This team is hovering around .500 and could be in that No. 6 to No. 8 seed come playoff time. It wouldn’t be shocking to see the Knicks win a first-round series. The offense is solid and they play well at home.
The problem is that New York is particularly vulnerable at the rim. Spending top-dollar on Joakim Noah in 2016 NBA free agency is not working out. New York also probably doesn’t want stretch five Kristaps Porzingis to bang down low unless he absolutely has to. He is far to skilled of an offensive player to see get hurt on the glass against a more physical seven-footer.
For New York to have more balance, the Knicks will need to upgrade its weak bench and bring in some low-post defensive presence. Noah can still play at a high level, but he’s not the player he once was to carry that burdensome of a work load.
Noel would be a sound defensive fit in New York. He may struggle in Jeff Hornacek’s and frankly Phil Jackson’s offense, but he would be greatly appreciated in rim protection and defensive prowess.
New York is a division rival of Philadelphia, so a trade between Atlantic foes could be tricky. The Knicks’ issues on the glass aren’t immediate, so they can let Noel get healthy before slowly working him into their defensive rotations. However, is he built to succeed in the New York?