Fansided

Nerlens Noel goes on postgame rant about playing time

By Joshua Sadlock

Apr 5, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Nerlens Noel (4) during the first quarter against the New Orleans Pelicans at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 5, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Nerlens Noel (4) during the first quarter against the New Orleans Pelicans at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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The 76ers have a logjam in the frontcourt and Nerlens Noel is none too pleased about his reduced minutes.

Nerlens Noel has played in only two games for the Philadelphia 76ers this season as he works his way back from knee surgery. Even so, Noel has clearly been frustrated about his role and place on the team. There aren’t enough minutes to go around at center or power forward for coach Brett Brown, and Noel’s issues with his playing time came to a head last night after Philadelphia lost 100-89 to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Noel played only eight minutes in the loss and did not see the court in the second half as the Sixers went to a small-ball lineup. The Kentucky product scored just two points, grabbed five boards and blocked a shot. Fellow big men Joel Embiid and Jahlil Okafor played 29 and 24 minutes, respectively.

Speaking to reporters after the game, Noel did not mince words.

"“I just want to play basketball,” Noel said in response to whether or not he wanted to be paired with another center. “I don’t really care who I’m playing with. I’m not an eight-minute player so I don’t know what that’s about. I don’t really care. I need to be on the court playing basketball. I think I’m too good to be playing eight minutes. Like, no, that’s crazy. That’s crazy. That’s crazy. They need to figure this s— out.”"

Coming out of Kentucky, Noel was seen as a project on the offensive end of the floor, and he missed his entire rookie season after knee surgery. In his three years in the league, Noel has scored 10.4 points per game while grabbing 8.0 rebounds per game. He has shot .490 from the field.

The Sixers should be looking to find a trade partner for Noel immediately. Continuing to keep three big men on the roster will only slow the development. Noel is the most likely to be traded, but teams may shy away from him after his recent comments. He was also reportedly fined over $25,000 by his team as a rookie for being late to practice and other offenses. Then, there is the mansion he allegedly trashed last year. Noel was sued for over $75,000 by the owners of a property in suburban Philadelphia after leaving marijuana, stained carpets, clogged toilets, and a laundry list of other damages to the house after he moved out.

Next: 5 trade destinations for Nerlens Noel

Keeping Noel, Embiid, and Okafor together is no longer beneficial to the Sixers, and the sooner they unload their most disgruntled employee, the better. Noel can no longer be a part of The Process.