The LA Clippers need to sign a better backup big this offseason. Nerlens Noel would be a perfect fit.
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00:00 After watching the LA Clippers collapse against the Denver Nuggets in this year's playoffs,
00:04 it became very clear that they need some extra help off the bench next season, particularly
00:08 on the defensive end.
00:10 But what's unclear are the moves that will take place with the organization's current
00:13 free agents and those it may be targeting in the offseason.
00:16 Take Montrez, Harrell, and Greene for example.
00:19 Both could become free agents later this year.
00:21 Greene is a player option.
00:22 Trez is unrestricted, so he will become a free agent regardless of what happens.
00:25 And they make up two-thirds of LA's center rotation, with Ibiza's Zubats being the odd
00:30 man out in this situation.
00:31 If the Clippers end up losing both players, the depth down low will need some serious
00:35 tending to.
00:36 LA could also look to upgrade their position if it decides to part ways with either Harrell
00:39 or Greene.
00:40 If that ends up being the case, then New Orleans' Noel should be among LA's top choices to
00:44 fill the role.
00:45 Noel has spent each of the last two seasons in OKC with the Thunder, but will become an
00:49 unrestricted free agent this offseason.
00:51 In that time, he's established himself as one of the best defensive backups a team
00:54 could want on the roster, all without breaking the bank.
00:57 Noel has signed minimum contracts with OKC in subsequent seasons.
01:01 And while he could commend a larger salary this offseason, LA could do his chunk of his
01:04 mid-level exception to bring him in.
01:06 According to Clean and Clean Glass, Noel is highly efficient when it comes to blocks and
01:10 steals.
01:11 He ranked in the 94th percentile in block percentage, and 98th percentile in steal percentage
01:16 this past season among the league's centers.
01:19 On the offensive end, he ranked in the 99th percentile in steal percentage at the rim
01:23 with 84 percent.
01:24 And that's again among people at his position.
01:27 Here's an excellent cut of his defensive highlights from this season.
01:29 Click down this video below and watch that video of him.
01:31 Makes some very, very great plays.
01:33 There are highlights against Clippers in there as well.
01:35 But that's beside the point.
01:37 His ability to hit the basket and provide easy offense to form up dunks and putbacks makes
01:41 him the ideal center to play 15-20 minutes a night behind the Zubats, especially if Zu
01:45 would find himself in foul trouble early, which became a bit of an issue this season.
01:49 There's only one major downside with Noel's defensive game right now, and that's how
01:52 often he fouls.
01:54 This season, Noel racked up 5.3 fouls per 36 minutes, which shows a pretty big lack
02:00 of discipline or maybe just IQ on that end of the floor.
02:03 The problem with that is something we just alluded to.
02:06 Like say, Zubats gets a couple fouls early in the first quarter of a game.
02:09 If Noel comes in for a relief and does the same thing as Zu does, that puts Zu and the
02:13 Clippers' coaches in a tough position to figure out what to do next.
02:16 Zu can come back in early and run the risk of running that foul total up before halftime,
02:21 which isn't ideal.
02:23 You could play Noel some more and he can foul out.
02:26 That's not a great option.
02:27 The Clippers could also counter this with a reliable small ball lineup and slide someone
02:31 like Green or Marcus Morris if they bring those two guys back over to the 5.
02:35 But ideally, you'd like to have a room protector on the floor at all times.
02:38 Ultimately, though, Noel seems like a near-seamless steal with LA's second unit.
02:43 The Clippers' next coach not just takes the time to work with him and corrects him of
02:45 his foul tendencies, but he's arguably the most affordable option on the market this
02:49 this offseason that can provide elite run protection.