Just last year, before all this nonsense, he was averaging 11 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.5 blocks in 29 minutes on 52% FG shooting.
By comparison, last year Mason Plumlee was averaging 9 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 0.8 steals and 1.0 blocks in 25 minutes on 52% FG shooting.
So slightly more points, rebounds, less assists, more steals, more blocks and similar shooting. He was in his 2nd year at age 21 while Plumlee was in his 3rd year at age 25. I'd be more than willing to take a shot on Noel who has similar production at 4 years younger of an age.
And he was forced to play out of position at PF next to the weak defending Okafor at center. His rookie year (at the age of 20) defensive stats were even more impressive (1.9 blk/g and 1.8 stl/g, 9.9 pts/g and 8.1 reb/g). I've mentioned this several times, that Nerlens Noel in his first two seasons in the NBA, at the ages of 20 and 21, was the ONLY player in the entire NBA to record at least 100 BLKs and at least 100 STL in both of those seasons. The
ONLY player to do it in both years and he was a 20-year old rookie the first season and did it in the second season, at 21, playing in only 67 games and being forced to play out of position at PF.
The guy was an elite NBA defender at the age of 20 (4th in the entire league in Defensive Box +/- in spite of playing on a shitty team that only won 18 games).
In terms of comparison, Marcus Camby is the obvious one. Most folks here remember late career 36 - 37 year old Marcus Camby, but in his prime Camby was DPOY. He led the league in blocked shots three years in a row, at 3.3, 3.3 and 3.6 blk/g and also averaged 11.9. 11.7 and 13.1 reb/g in those three seasons.
Noel was a better defender and a better rebounder as a 20-year old rookie than Camby was at 22. In fact, Nerlens Noel is younger now (by about a month) than Camby was as a rookie. Camby never averaged more than 7.8 reb/g until his 5th season in the league at age 26, but eventually became one of the top rebounders in the game. Noel averaged 8.1 rpg in each of his first two years. He was a better rebounder at 20 than Camby was at 25.
The guy is only 22, is already a proven, elite level defender and he's available and it shouldn't take much to get him. Yes, it would be a great fit. He's a great rim protector and also great in defending the pick and roll and covering the passing lanes. His offense is raw, but already more advanced than Plumlee's and will only get better.
BNM
But I agree with the premise. 
