The Atalanta Hawks dealing point guard Jeff Teague to the Philadelphia 76ers for big man Nerlens Noel seems like a win-win deal for all involved.
With the 76ers clutching the top pick in the draft and not wanting to waste it on a point, dealing one of their excess big men makes sense. For the Hawks, letting go of a point guard with an adequate one waiting in the wings is an equally smart move.
It makes sense, then, that Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer was able to confirm rumblings of the trade:
A source has confirmed that the Sixers have had multi-player trade talks with the Atlanta Hawks. Yahoo Sports reported that the teams are discussing a deal centered around packages that include the Sixers center Nerlens Noel and Hawks point guard Jeff Teague.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a straight-up deal for many reasons. Per Pompey:
Sixers shooting guard Nik Stauskas and/or small forward Robert Covington could be included in the deal, according to a source.
First, Atlanta. The Hawks have to try to deal with losing Al Horford this offseason if the team cannot come to terms with him on a new deal. Given the whipping the team took in the postseason, the front office might be on the hunt to blow up the same old core anyway. Adding Noel, who is 22 years old and 6’11”, 228 pounds, would provide the franchise a fresh direction alongside point Dennis Schroder, who would assume staring duties with Teague gone.
Philadelphia has the right idea, too. Getting a proven starter such as Teague, who averaged 15.7 points and 5.9 assists last year and is 27 years old, frees up the No. 1 pick. This means Brandon Ingram or Ben Simmons coming on board and acting as the superstar of the future with Teague smartly acting as general. With Jahlil Okafor and Joel Embiid down low, the roster won’t feel the loss of Noel much, anyway.
This deal seems to have some ironing out before going official. It’s not a headline grabber like some might hope for, but it’s a smart play by franchises with excess assets and everything to gain from adding talent at other positions. Stay tuned.
