2020 NBA Free Agency: 3 Realistic centers for the Washington Wizards
By Ethan Smith
Realistic Option #1: Nerlens Noel
Nerlens Noel has spent the majority of his six-season NBA career as a backup center. Since starting in 133 of 142 games he played during his first two seasons, Noel started just 53 of the 270 games he played in over the next four seasons. However, that doesn’t mean Noel isn’t effective, even if in a limited role.
For his career, Noel averages 1.4 blocks and 1.3 steals per game in only 22.1 minutes. Last year, as Steven Adams’ backup in Oklahoma City, Noel averaged 1.5 blocks, and 1.0 steals in 18.5 minutes with a block percentage of 6.9(!!). Per 36 minutes, Noel averaged 2.9 blocks, and 2.1 steals last season. For his career, he averages 2.3 blocks and 2.1 steals per 36 minutes. Starter? No. Immensely impactful? Yes.
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Noel made $2.03 million last season with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Like Cauley-Stein, Noel should be available for fairly cheap, although he won’t be without suitors on the open market. The Philadelphia 76ers — the team that drafted Noel back in 2013 — is at least one team that’s rumored to be interested in Noel. Injury concerns are real with Noel, though, who has played in 65 games or more in only three of his six NBA seasons. That’s something the Wizards should consider as they head into a condensed season with an accelerated offseason.