I understand the Hinkiemaniacs are embittered, but you guys really need to let it go. Teams don't mortgage their future in trades for centers just because they're centers, because every year centers hit free agency and they can acquire an alternative for just cash. Now, if you have a C that projects as a top 30 guy in the league? Well that's valuable. But mostly because he's a top thirty player.I don't think that makes any sense.
In one ear, I have you telling me that Noel's going to end up getting a max deal (or hugely overpaid, at least).
In the other, I've got nighthob telling me it's a buyer's market for centers and Noel has no value.
We had this exact same discussion years ago when the topic was point guards. Point guards have no unique positional value. Saying "Player X is a pure, pass first point guard, that makes him valuable!" was untrue then. And people would always turn to the example of Top 5 Player in the NBA Chris Paul as proof. But CP3's value was that he was a player playing an at all time great level, regardless of position.
Philadelphia's only bet in that direction was Joel Embiid, unfortunately the injuries foiled them there. Noel and Okafor are roleplayers of varying value, and I think that Noel's is greater because defensive metrics suggest that he could be a better defensive player if he were on a better team. But how much is that worth when you have to pay him market rate next summer? The suggestion from Givony is that that's worth a mid first round pick. Do you know what else was worth a mid first round pick? Jeff Teague. So apparently the "troll" was right again.