6. Nerlens Noel
The Oklahoma City Thunder surprised everybody by reaching the postseason last year. How much of an impact did Nerlens Noel have on their success?
Pros
Entering the NBA, Noel was always going to be a great rim protector. Standing at 6’10” and boasting a 7’4″ wingspan – Noel is able to use his size to stop opponents from converting buckets in the paint.
Last season, Noel averaged 7.4 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game in fewer than 20 minutes of playing time. You know exactly what you’re going to get from Noel when he hits the floor.
Cons
Unfortunately, the reason he doesn’t receive extra minutes because of his limited playstyle. Noel isn’t fast enough to defend the perimeter and his lack of 3-point shooting holds him back from being a positive contributor on offense.
It would be tough to trust Noel to be on the court in the playoffs when the game slows down and the need for stretch bigs increases. Still, he could be a positive factor if the Dubs need additional rim protection.