Fansided

Joel Embiid tells Nerlens Noel goodbye after trade (Video)

By John Buhler

Mar 7, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Nerlens Noel (left) and center Joel Embiid (right) share a laugh during warm ups before a game against the Atlanta Hawks at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 7, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Nerlens Noel (left) and center Joel Embiid (right) share a laugh during warm ups before a game against the Atlanta Hawks at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

Joel Embiid and Nerlens Noel were apparently buds on the Philadelphia 76ers. Here is Embiid saying goodbye to Noel after Noel was traded to Dallas.

It was a somber day at the Philadelphia 76ers practice facility. A friendship in the frontcourt will now be put to the test via long distance. In the hours before the 3:00 p.m. ET trade deadline, 76ers center Nerlens Noel was traded to the Dallas Mavericks for wing Justin Anderson and a salary dump in the form of center Andrew Bogut.

Noel’s best friend on the 76ers just so happened to be the guy he was fighting for playing time with in Joel Embiid. The former lottery picks played the same position, but were often hurt, and only played a total of eight NBA minutes on the court together.

Still, their friendship remained strong. Here is Embiid wishing Noel the best of luck in his new gig as the new starting center for the Dallas Mavericks. Is this sobbing we’re about to hear?

Though they may not have spent a ton of time together on the hardwood for the 76ers, Embiid and Noel bonded through the trials and tribulations of this thing called The Process. Together, they missed over a combined three years of playing time after being drafted by the 76ers in their intense hyper-tanking efforts under former general manager Sam Hinkie.

Next: Greatest NBA Trade Deadline Deals Ever

Instead of seeing each other every day at 76ers practice, Embiid and Noel will get to see each other twice annually now that Noel plays in the Western Conference. Philadelphia had to make space in their frontcourt, as Noel was not getting enough playing time for a defensive player of his caliber. Embiid knows this trade is best for Noel, but will miss his frontcourt buddy.