Each week, our resident basketball analysts will discuss some of the hottest topics involving the Sixers.
Running the Give and Go are Sixers Insider Jessica Camerato, CSNPhilly.com producer/reporters Matt Haughton and Paul Hudrick.
This week, we debate which big the Sixers should trade: Nerlens Noel or Jahlil Okafor.
Camerato
Nerlens Noel or Jahlil Okafor? It's the age-old (at least it feels that way) question that lingers around the Sixers' roster as they enter training camp with a crowded frontcourt.
The Sixers tried to find a balance between the two bigs last season, but both are natural centers, which left one playing out of position at all times. Eventually, the Sixers shifted Noel to the five spot, but the season-long assessment was cut short when Okafor underwent knee surgery in March.
That brings us to this season, when the frontcourt is even more jammed with the additions of No. 1 pick Ben Simmons, Dario Saric from overseas and the upcoming debut of Joel Embiid.
When looking at Noel and Okafor, it comes down to fit. The Sixers are constructed to run an uptempo system this season. Simmons, who will be a centerpiece, is a point-forward who will get out and go. Many of the free-agent additions will do the same, including shooting guard Gerald Henderson, who has said he likes playing in a fast-paced offense.
NBA
Last season, the Sixers clocked in as the second-fastest team in the NBA, with an average speed of 4.32 miles per hour. They ranked fifth in offensive speed (4.64) and first in defensive speed (4.00). Okafor ranked last on the team with an average speed on offense of 4.19 miles per hour. Noel edged him out at 4.42 miles per hour in that category. Defensively, Okafor had a slight advantage over Noel with 3.89 to 3.86 miles per hour.
Noel is better suited for this kind of system. He brings versatility to the center position, which allows him to play at the basket and also spread the floor. Last season, he used his speed to connect on lobs from Ish Smith, and he will do the same with the team’s new court leaders. Noel entered the offseason looking to expand his shot, even stretching out to the three-point line. He can cause matchup problems when the Sixers roll out a group of speedy bigs with varied shot ranges.
Okafor has the potential to develop into a dominant player. He was impressive as a rookie with 17.5 points and 7.0 rebounds, but the flow of the game is different when he is in the lineup. The offensive pace is often slower, which doesn’t mesh with a quick tempo.
Haughton
Let's face it: The NBA has been trending toward the offense for quite some time now. That's not to say defense no longer has a place in the game, but gone are the days of the Bad Boys Pistons, the mid-90s Knicks and the early-2000s Spurs. Of the top 10 offensive teams in the NBA last season, eight made the playoffs.
For that reason, Okafor gets the nod to stay from me. He averaged 17.5 points in 2015-16 to Noel's 11.1. Okafor also shot 68.6 percent from the free throw line and posted a 17.14 player efficiency rating compared to Noel's 59.0 percent and 16.28 PER. And while Noel did have the upper hand with a 52.1 field goal percentage to Okafor's 50.8, when you factor in that Okafor took 5.9 more attempts per game, his production shines that much more.
Those are just some of the real numbers. Now factor in the eye test. Okafor knows how to get position in the post regularly, has a bevy of low-block moves and a pair of giant mittens for hands. On the flip side, Noel is dependent on his jump hook in the paint, and all the well-documented work on his jump shot hasn't produced much. And it's better if we don't discuss his hands. Think of how many times you will be groaning when those no-look passes from Simmons go flying off Noel's hands into the crowd.
Obviously, Noel has the edge on the defensive side of the ball. He has the quickness to cover plenty of ground along with the length to block shots (1.5 blocks per game) and get in the passing lanes (1.8 steals per game). However, the Sixers — including Noel — were giving up baskets long before Okafor became a member of the team. After all, the Sixers allowed 101.0 points per game with Noel in 2014-15 (20th in the NBA) while Okafor was still at Duke and 107.6 with both players on the roster last season (29th in the NBA). A big jump in one season, but going from bad to worse isn't hard for an already defensive-deficient group, and it's far from the doing of one player.
With Noel sporting a '15-16 defensive rating of 105.6 — which measures how many points per 100 possessions a particular player's team allows with him on the floor — it's hard to jump all over Okafor for his 108.7 defensive rating.
When it comes down to it, even with less speed and athleticism, Okafor is far and away the more polished offensive option for a game becoming decidedly more focused on scoring. That's just a skill set you can't give away right now ... even if it costs you a few extra buckets on defense.
Hudrick
Call me crazy — my friends and family often do — but if I get the right offer(s), I'm trading Noel and Okafor.
Clearly, they can't play together, so at least one of them has to go. Which big I'm trading has to do with the return more than anything. You're building this team around Simmons, Embiid, next year's first-round pick(s) and all of their superstar potential. Whichever player can get me a better supporting cast is the guy I move. If I can get great value for both, I pull the trigger.
I can see arguments from both sides. Noel will be an ideal fit because of his ability as a rim protector and his ability to run the floor in Brett Brown's uptempo style. Okafor is a much better finisher and offensive player overall, which will aid Simmons as a facilitator. They're both flawed, but both have their strengths. Find a team that's lacking in the offensive or defensive department and get a deal done.
For the record, I'm not trading either to the Celtics. Unless they offer me the Nets' pick. Which they won't.