2. Nerlens Noel
Nerlens Noel played with Russell Westbrook on the Oklahoma City Thunder and he represents the perfect kind of big that the Los Angeles Lakers need to put next to Anthony Davis. Let’s be honest, Davis is at his best when he just sucks it up and plays the five but we know that he is not going to do that consistently and that the Lakers have to bring in a traditional center.
Noel is the traditional center that would help the Lakers and be miles better than both DeAndre Jordan and Dwight Howard.
Noel is not someone who is going to offer much floor spacing as he is not the modern-day stretch five. However, he is a defensive wizard is someone the Lakers could throw out there in bigger lineups with Davis on the floor and Westbrook on the bench (the floor spacing problem would still exist with Westbrook, Noel and Davis on the floor).
Noel is more dynamic offensively and far more athletic than either of the old centers that the Lakers have on the roster. Even if he does not offer much offensively, his defense is where it is at. Noel ranks in the top 10 in Defensive Box Plus/Minus this season.
So why would the New York Knicks trade him? The Knicks need to shake something up and might be regretting signing a center in today’s NBA to a three-year, $27.7 million contract. If they want to free up money, they could take a package of Kendrick Nunn, some expiring contracts and a future pick swap.
If the Knicks want an asset in return, quite frankly, Talen Horton-Tucker and a second-round pick might be enough considering the Knicks still have Mitchell Robinson, who is really promising. The Knicks really don’t need two traditional fives on the roster and they have to pay Robinson after this year. It makes sense to move off of Noel.