NBA Rumors: Cleveland Cavaliers Target Nerlens Noel Trade; Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love Want LeBron James Support

By Mitch de Leon
NBA: Philadelphia 76ers at New York Knicks
Jan 18, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Nerlens Noel (4) defends New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (7) during the first overtime at Madison Square Garden. New York Knicks won 119-113 in double overtime.  Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

The Cleveland Cavaliers have been quiet this offseason, seemingly content with re-signing their biggest star in LeBron James and possibly JR Smith. With Kevin Durant locked in with Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green via free agency, fans of the 2015-16 NBA champions wonder how Kyrie Irving and his crew will stop the Golden State Warriors next season. To address the needs in their roster, Cleveland Cavaliers reports indicate that a Nerlens Noel trade is currently in the works.

At the moment, the Philadelphia 76ers star is lumped with a couple of other big men in their roster, namely, Jahlil Okafor, Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons. With an abundance of centers in the Sixers locker room, the front office has been open to negotiations to release one or two of these players. Since a Jahlil Okafor trade has been adamantly denied and the Joel Embiid health issues appear to have been resolved, the Philadelphia 76ers could be looking at a Nerlens Noel trade this offseason.

"When the Sixers drafted Ben Simmons with the No. 1 overall pick in June, that created a major logjam for Philadelphia's frontcourt. Simmons joins a group that includes Noel, Jahlil Okafor, Dario Saric and Joel Embiid," noted A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.

The analyst further pointed out, "With five young bigs who are all talented enough to play now, the Sixers will have little choice but to trade away at least one of them or potentially create a locker room with more disharmony."

Meanwhile, the Cleveland Cavaliers roster is in need of a center who can boost the performances of LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love in the hardwood court. Rumors are rife that they are looking at signing Nerlens Noel for a minimum deal. Since league sources hint at the willingness of the Philadelphia 76ers star to be involved in an NBA trade, the idea of signing with the LeBron James squad could be attractive to the big man.

However, no comment has been made by any of the parties involved in the reported potential Nerlens Noel trade. Right now, all fans are sure about is the desire of the Philadelphia 76ers to unload one of their centers in the roster.

"We're not going to make a bad deal just to make a deal. I think we can be a better basketball team if we can distribute that talent better," said Bryan Colangelo.

The Philadelphia 76ers exec added, "Maybe take one of those assets and address other needs on the roster. I think right now it's best to say we like all of them, we want to see if we can make the most out of each of them. At the end of the day, the reality says one has to go at some point but only when the deal is right."

  • ‘Wang Mingdao’s Diary’ reproduction highlights complexities of contemporary Chinese Christianity

    On December 9, the China Graduate School of Theology (中国神学研究院) hosted a public lecture titled “A Courageous Witness in the Times—Launch of Wang Mingdao (王明道)’s Diary.” The lecture, themed “Faith Patterns in Beijing’s Christian Churches Through the Lens of Wang Mingdao’s Diary,” featured Dr. Ni Buxiao (倪步晓), Associate Director and Assistant Professor at the Christian Faith and Chinese Culture Research Center of Alliance Bible Seminary (建道神学院), as the keynote speaker.

  • Floating library ‘Doulos Hope’ arrives in Taiwan; spreading love and hope from a former cruise ship

    Doulos Hope, the international floating book fair ship, has returned to Taiwan and is now docked at Kaohsiung Port, open to the public from December 18, 2024, to January 12, 2025. Originally built in 1991 and renovated in 2022, the ship features over 2,000 books on various topics, including faith, science, and art. It is operated by a diverse crew of 140 volunteers from 25 countries, offering services such as education, healthcare, and community outreach. The ship's mission is to spread hope and

  • Chinese Online School of Theology publishes annual ministry report: Expanding Chinese theological education through new strategies

    In the 2023-2024 academic year, New York-based Chinese Online School of Theology (COST) has seen significant development in expanding its ministry in theological education and mission outreach. They have promoted a series of new events and projects to explore different strategies that expand theological education for Chinese ministers. The following are some highlights from the 2023-2024 annual report:

  • Dr. Fenggang Yang: How foreign forces transformed traditional Chinese legal systems

    In a recent lecture to Chinese Christians, scholar Dr. Fenggang Yang (杨凤岗) gave an in-depth analysis of the historical evolution and contemporary significance of the modern legal system in Chinese society. He explored the tensions and integrations between traditional law and modern rule of law, highlighting the distinctive characteristics of China’s traditional legal system and emphasizing the role of foreign influences in introducing modern legal practices into Chinese society.

Top Stories