NBA Trade Rumors: 76ers’ Nerlens Noel For Hawks’ Jeff Teague

While much of the focus for the Philadelphia 76ers and the Atlanta Hawks is the upcoming NBA draft later in the month, there is a possibility that a big trade could be in the works between the two teams. Since the 76ers are practically guaranteed to be drafting Ben Simmons with the No. 1 overall pick, Jahlil Okafor and Nerlens Noel are reportedly on the trade block because of the number of big men on the roster. While it has been assumed that Okafor is the more likely of the two to be moved, the latest rumors are stating that Noel could be headed to the Atlanta Hawks for Jeff Teague.

As Shams Charania of The Vertical reports on Yahoo Sports, the two teams are in discussions, but nothing appears to be imminent.

Atlanta and Philadelphia are discussing a deal centered on a Jeff Teague and Nerlens Noel package, league sources tell The Vertical.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 2, 2016

Now that former Philadelphia 76ers general manager Sam Hinkie is no longer with the organization, it appears as though the tanking process is over. While the 76ers still have a few years to go until they will be truly competitive, new general manager Bryan Colangelo is looking to start the process of attempting to win games next season. At only 22 years old, Noel has the higher ceiling, but Teague could help the 76ers win more games next year. While some may argue that winning a few more games next season does not really matter, having Teague on the floor could also help the developmental process for the rest of the 76ers’ young core.

Charania’s tweet also references a Nerlens Noel package. While Teague is a much more established player than Noel, he does have his drawbacks. Set to turn 28 years old this month, Teague is not exactly old for an NBA player, but he may actually be too old for the current 76ers’ plan. Since the team is still a few years away from winning, there is a chance that he could waste his remaining prime years with a team that has no chance to really compete for a championship. Giving up Noel and additional assets may not be the right move for a player that may not be around for the long term.

As Liberty Ballers reports, Teague is set to become a free agent after the 2016-2017 season, and it would be expensive if the 76ers decide to try to re-sign him.

“Now two years removed from his All-Star season of 2014-15, Teague averaged 15.7 points and 5.7 assists per game, and shot 40 percent from beyond the arc on 275 attempts last season. He’s due $8 million in 2016-17 — a more than reasonable cap figure — but his contract is up at the end of next year. Trading for him would mean they’re pretty invested in Teague long term, and I would feel uncomfortable giving an older player like him a near-max contract on a team that’s not even close to competing yet. The timelines of Teague continuing to be a productive player and the Sixers being a legitimate threat in the Eastern Conference don’t really line up. That’s something they need to consider when making a deal of this magnitude.”

While Teague’s deal would be very friendly to the 76ers next year, they would risk losing him after the season. For that reason, it would only make sense to make the trade if Teague agrees to an extension. Since Teague is governed by extend and trade rules, as reported by the NBA Cap Strategist, he would have a cap on how large of a raise he could receive by signing an extension.

Since it is unlikely that Teague would agree to an extension, the 76ers would be unwise to make this deal. While there is a chance that Teague would decide to re-sign with the 76ers after next year, he is set to become an unrestricted free agent. He is likely to opt for a team that has a legitimate chance to compete for a championship.

While Teague is one of the Hawks’ top scorers, he has been involved in trade talks for the past year. Since athletic big men that can protect the rim like Noel are fairly rare, the Hawks could potentially improve their roster over the long term with this deal. While the exact terms of the proposed deal are not known, it appears as though they would also receive other assets from the 76ers.

With the Philadelphia 76ers and Atlanta Hawks currently discussing a deal that would involve a swap of Nerlens Noel and other assets for Jeff Teague, rumors will continue to come out speculating the details and the chances that it could happen.

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