Noel rejects Mavericks contract offer

By Anthony Caruso III | Publisher

According to a report, Dallas Mavericks forward Nerlens Noel was offered a $70 million extension. He reportedly wanted a max offer instead.

After turning down the Mavericks offer, he has not received a counter offer.

Nerlens Noel is seen here as a member of the Dallas Mavericks scrambling to get the ball against the Memphis Grizzlies (Getty Images)

The 24-year-old Center is an unrestricted free agent this summer. He made $4.18 million in his first full season in Dallas, Texas.

Noel played in 30 games this season, including six starts. He averaged 4.4 points, along with 5.6 rebounds, 0.7 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.7 blocks in 15.7 minutes per game in 18.4 minutes per game.

He has been a bust with the Mavericks, as he appeared in 52 games, including 18 starts after the 2017 mid season trade with the Philadelphia 76ers involving Andrew Bogut. He’s averaged 6.1 points, along with 6.1 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.9 blocks per game.

The Mavericks were thought to be the winner of the Noel trade when it happened. The 76ers were chastised because of the move.

Philadelphia received Justin Anderson, Bogut, and a first-round draft pick in the package.

As a member of the 76ers, Noel appeared in 171 games and started 140 contests. He averaged 10.2 points, 7.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.7 steals, and 1.6 blocks in 28.3 minutes per game.

With the Mavericks not considering a deal with Noel after he requested a max deal, it appears that he’ll be looking for employment elsewhere. This would be his third NBA in his young career.

Bulls interested in 76ers’ Okafor

By Anthony Caruso III | Publisher
On February 3, 2017 at 12:52 am EST

The Chicago Bulls are reportedly interested in Philadelphia 76ers center Jahlil Okafor, according to CSNChicago.com. Okafor is a Chicago native and has been in a numbers game with Nerlens Noel and Joel Embiid.

With the emergence of Embiid, Okafor has been on the trading block. He is a half-court center, but he is defensively inclined.

Jahlil Okafor (Getty Images)

The Bulls have had a lot of dysfunction between Dwyane Wade, Jimmy Butler and Rajon Rondo. If they can get their acts together, they can be a contending team in the Eastern Conference.

Right now, the Bulls center is Robin Lopez. After being acquired from the New York Knicks in the Derrick Rose trade, he has not produced much for the team. The 28-year-old is averaging 9.5 points and 6.8 rebounds per game with 0.8 assists and 0.2 steals.

Lopez has had two 21-point games this season. However, he also had 24 games, where he has scored less than 10-points in a game.

This season, Okafor is averaging 11.5 points and 4.7 rebounds in 23 games.

He was the third overall pick by the 76ers in the 2015 NBA Draft. As a rookie, he averaged 17.5 points and 7.0 rebounds in 53 games.

This appears — at this early stage — to be more interest in the Bulls side than the 76ers.

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New details in the Jahlil Okafor Boston fight

Philadelphia 76ers rookie center Jahlil Okafor has been in the wrong spotlight since yesterday following news breaking that he was involved in a fight after the Boston Celtics win over the 76ers. New details are coming to light about what happened in Boston.

Now, it is being reported that Okafor was with rookie forward Christian Wood. Okafor is 19, while Wood is 20.

Both players are underage, as indicated by their age, and the incident happened outside of a nightclub, where alcohol is served.

“We are aware of the report and we are currently working to gather additional information,” the 76ers prepared statement read. “Until that time, we will have no further comment.”

But after reportedly being heckled by an individual outside of the nightclub, Okafor took it upon himself to “protect” Woods. The heckler said that the Sixers suck.

“Apparently, they said: ’The 76ers suck and you guys are all losers. You’ll never win a game,” a source told ESPN. “I was around the corner when it happened. I saw him a minute after he knocked the dude out. I think the guy was just talking s—. Saying the Sixers suck.”

The Sixers are 0-16 so far on the season and they may fall to 0-17 this evening against the Houston Rockets at the Toyota Center.

Overall, the team is on a 26-game losing streak dating back to last season.

Since it appeared like Okafor was the aggressor, it wouldn’t be surprising if the 76ers or even the NBA hands Okafor a fine, or even a suspension. If they do that, then it would mean the Sixers would have to turn to Nerlens Noel as the center until the rookie comes back.

Source: Sixers will not draft center Joel Embiid after his foot surgery

By Anthony Caruso III
Posted: June 21st, 2014 at 12:37 am EST

On Thursday, the NBA will have its annual NBA draft.

Former Kansas Jayhawks center Joel Embiid was expected to be a Top 3 pick next week. After having surgery on Friday to have two screws inserted into his foot, he is expected to drop out of the first three picks.

Joel Embiid (Getty Images)

Ambiid is expected to be out four to six months, but could be out longer depending on how his rehab goes. According to a source, the Philadelphia 76ers, who hold the No. 3 pick, are not expected to draft Embiid.

“The Sixers are not willing to take a gamble on a player, who could sit out the season,” the source said. “Last year, the team took a flyer on Nerlens Noel, and he never played a minute this season. Their rebuilding plan will not allow them to do that again next week.”

Embiid is one of a long list of big men to have the stress fracture/navicular foot injury. Towards the end of the 2012-2013 season, Charlotte Hornets center Brendan Haywood had the same surgery and missed 97 games.

In 2009, former Houston Rockets center Yao Ming had the surgery and never played again. He missed 159 games over two years, before calling it a career.

Ming is one of three players who were forced to retire after this surgery. Eric Montross missed 82 games during the 2002-03 season, before retiring.

Bill Walton missed the 1987-88 season with the injury, before retiring.

Zydrunas Ilgauskas, the former Cleveland Cavaliers center, missed 202 games of his career after having this surgery. His career was hampered from the 1996-97 and 1999 through 2001 with the injury.

While some players have missed significant time, other players have missed less than 30 games. Kurt Thomas missed 29 games in 2006, and Jerome James missed 27 games during the 2002-03 season.

Kevin McHale missed 14 games during the 1986-1987 season, as well.

Wiggins to declare for the NBA draft tomorrow

By Anthony Caruso III
Posted: March 30th, 2014 at 9:18 pm EST

Kansas freshman Andrew Wiggins is leaving the Jayhawks after one year.

This is no surprise, as Wiggins has previously said that he will leave Kansas after one year. Tomorrow, he will make an official announcement that he’s entering the 2014 NBA Draft.

Andrew Wiggins (Getty Images)

Wiggins is expected to be joined by Kansas freshman Joel Embiid to leave early. Embiid has not officially made an announcement about the NBA Draft, but some news organizations already have Embiid as a Top 3 pick.

Wiggins was once considered the top pick in this year’s draft. However, as the season progressed, he dropped from being the top pick.

He is now considered a lottery pick to go somewhere in the top 13 picks. In addition, the Philadelphia 76ers covet Wiggins.

Yet, there is no guarantee that they will be able to draft Wiggins. In May, the 76ers will find out exactly where their draft selection will be.

The 76ers would like to put Wiggins with Michael Carter-Williams and Nerlens Noel. Noel will be entering his first season next year after sitting out this year recovering from his ACL injury.

Once Wiggins officially declares tomorrow, he is expected to sign a $180 million deal with Adidas, which originally offered him this massive shoe deal back in October of 2013.

76ers reportedly interested in Aşık, and would likely have to trade Young to add Aşık

By Anthony Caruso III
Posted: November 16th, 2013 at 11:52 am EST

Houston center Ömer Faruk Aşık signed with the Rockets to be their center for the long-term.

But this summer, the Rockets jumped at the idea of adding restricted free agent center Dwight Howard. And almost immediately after the team signed Howard to a long-term deal, Aşık demanded a trade for the first time.

Omer Asik (Getty Images)

The Rockets did not trade Aşık, and again he is unhappy after losing his starting power forward role this week. So, once again, he has demanded that he wants out of Houston, and the Rockets are expected to listen this time.

The Philadelphia 76ers have been linked to Aşık in a possible trade possibility. Current 76ers President and General Manager Sam Hinkie helped get Aşık to sign with the Rockets after leaving the Chicago Bulls.

The 27-year-old center signed a three-year deal with the Rockets for $25.1 million dollars in the summer of 2012. And after this season, he has one year left on his deal.

The 76ers are reportedly interested in Aşık, and Hinkie, in his short time with the team, has been known to gamble. To make a deal work in return for  Aşık, the team would likely have to deal Thaddeus Young in return.

Aşık would give the 76ers another 7-footer, as they only have one on their roster. Spencer Hawes, their current starting center, is the only one, and he stands 7-foot-1.

They also have one 6-foot-11 player in Kwame Brown, and three players, who are 6-foot-10. Those are Brandon Davies, Arnett Moultrie, and Daniel Orton. If Nerlens Noel was playing this year, then he would be the other 6-foot-11 player, but head coach Brent Brown said he’s out for the year.

With the Rockets,  Aşık is averaging just 5 points per game along with 7.2 rebounds and 0.2 assists in 20.6 minutes per game.

Young, on the other hand, is averaging 14.9 points per game, 6.2 rebounds per game, and 1.6 assists per game in 33.4 minutes per game.

In Houston, Young would join a crowded wing team. They already have Ronnie Brewer, Omri Casspi, Francisco Garcia, and Terrence Jones, who play both shooting guard and small forward for the Rockets.

But with the addition of Young, they would get another young player who is just 25-years-old, to build with their already young nucleus. The Rockets are building around James Harden and Howard, and Young would be a good addition for their future.