The Philadelphia 76ers are potentially facing the same situation as they did last season with Andrew Bynum: first-round pick Nerlens Noel could miss the entire season.
Noels tore his ACL in February 2013, and he's expected to be sidelined until at least Christmas, according to USA Today Sports. Sixers general manager Sam Hinkie discussed Noels on Tuesday, but declined to divulge whether Noels could miss the whole season, instead emphasizing the long-term health and safety of the center.
"Nothing else matters as much as that matters," Hinkie told USA Today Sports. "So as this plays out, we will give him all the resources necessary and all the best medical people we can put in front of him, both here and in Birmingham, [Ala], where he's been doing his rehab, to try to get him back on the floor, to be the best player he can be for himself and for the Sixers."
Noels had been projected to go first in the 2013 NBA draft, but dropped to the sixth spot. Despite the possibility of missing the whole season, Hinkie didn't regret his pick and stressed the rarity of finding an athletic center.
"Rim protectors are at a real premium in our league right now. A real premium," Hinkie said. "Athletic players have always been at a premium. Nerlens is both. Nerlens is a guy who brings it every possession he's on the floor, who is constantly trying to protect the rim as drivers attack and as a guy who we think will fit the style of play that we hope to play here in Philadelphia."
Noels is skinny compared to other big men - he's 6-foot-11 and 219 pounds. Suffering his season-ending ACL tear wasn't enough to keep him from earning the SEC Defensive Player of the Year, averaging 10.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 2.1 steals and 4.4 blocks per game.
Philadelphia, meanwhile, still does not have a coach. Hinkie is unhurried to find a coach, even with training camp nine weeks away, and said he's being methodical with his search.
