Nerlens Noel: Worth the Risk?

[gourimoko]

I thought the point of a supersub scoring 6th man like waiters is that so you have a defensively oriented guy starting and then if you go stagnant on offense, you bring him in?

I think the greater benefit is that you spread your offensive efficiency over the entire 48 minutes rather than having several ball-dominate players competing against one another each possession. If we look at Westbrook, Harden, and Durant, while it made for an interesting lineup it's better to have Harden come off the bench allowing Westbrook and Durant to share the floor, while Harden leads the second unit.

There is also the added bonus of having what amounts to a starting caliber player (like Harden for instance) playing against the opponents bench. It forces the opposing team to make adjustments that they probably aren't used to and haven't handled much throughout the regular season.

 

[Silky Smooth]

There is too much risk involved with taking Noel, especially with where the Cavs are at in the rebuild. It would be different if we had a big 3 set in place Then we could take a gamble on Noel but we are still looking for a player that can be special.

 

[Derek]

There is too much risk involved with taking Noel, especially with where the Cavs are at in the rebuild. It would be different if we had a big 3 set in place Then we could take a gamble on Noel but we are still looking for a player that can be special.

I think the fact that we are still looking for another player who can be special is even more of a reason to take the risk on Noel instead of going the "safer" route.

I like a lot of the guys in the top 10 as good to very good players, but Noel appears to be the only one with the potential to be a game changing talent.

 

[Silky Smooth]

I think the fact that we are still looking for another player who can be special is even more of a reason to take the risk on Noel instead of going the "safer" route.

I like a lot of the guys in the top 10 as good to very good players, but Noel appears to be the only one with the potential to be a game changing talent.

Very true but do you really want to take a huge chance on a player coming off of ACL surgery in the last high lottery pick we may have in the Kyrie Era?

 

[Shakalu M.D.]

I think the fact that we are still looking for another player who can be special is even more of a reason to take the risk on Noel instead of going the "safer" route.

I like a lot of the guys in the top 10 as good to very good players, but Noel appears to be the only one with the potential to be a game changing talent.

I don't really think a torn ACL is that big of a deal in today's sports. Obviously there's always the threat of it being a recurring problem, but it's not like we're talking microfracture surgery here. He's a long way away from being Greg Oden.

If there was ever a draft class to take a risk on a potential game changer, it would be this one. There really doesn't seem to be any other guys with superstar ability. This is all probably a moot point since it will likely take the number 1 overall pick to land him.

 

[Derek]

Very true but do you really want to take a huge chance on a player coming off of ACL surgery in the last high lottery pick we may have in the Kyrie Era?

I don't see a torn ACL as much of anything. The growth plate thing is a little worrisome, but that's something the doctors will surely look at during the pre-draft process. If he doesn't check out, he'll get red flagged.

You said it yourself, we still need another game changing player and this should be our last high lotto opportunity. It doesn't appear to me that you can play it safe and get a game changer in this draft.

 

[Silky Smooth]

I don't see a torn ACL as much of anything. The growth plate thing is a little worrisome, but that's something the doctors will surely look at during the pre-draft process. If he doesn't check out, he'll get red flagged.

You said it yourself, we still need another game changing player and this should be our last high lotto opportunity. It doesn't appear to me that you can play it safe and get a game changer in this draft.

Alex Len is still there and I am one who thinks Len will be a very good player in the NBA.

 

[Derek]

Alex Len is still there and I am one who thinks Len will be a very good player in the NBA.

I think he'll be somewhere between good to very good as well, but that's not game changing or "special" as you put it in your original post.

 

[Silky Smooth]

I think he'll be somewhere between good to very good as well, but that's not game changing or "special" as you put it in your original post.

Is there really anybody in this draft that can be special? Alex Len fits a position of need, fit and has the potential to be an all star. I'm just worried about Noel holding up for and 82 game season.

 

[oasis05]

This is what the cleveland clinic says about the acl

http://my.clevelandclinic.org/orthopaedics-rheumatology/diseases-conditions/acl-injury.aspx

What is the ACL?

The ACL – anterior cruciate ligament – is probably the most important ligament in the knee. (A ligament connects one bone to another.) The ACL, which is located in the center of the knee, connects the thigh bone (femur) to the shin bone (tibia). The main function of the ACL is to stop forward movement of the shin bone on the thigh bone.
What causes ACL injuries?

Most ACL tears are non-contact injuries. You can tear your ACL when you twist your knee too forcefully, or when you plant your foot and then suddenly change direction.
What athletes are at an increased risk of ACL injuries?

ACL injuries seem to be increasingly common. In college football, the risk of tearing the ACL and needing to undergo reconstruction in a four-year career may be as high as 16 percent. High-risk sports are football, basketball, soccer and volleyball. Females are four times more likely to have an ACL tear than males are.
What does an ACL tear feel like? What are the symptoms?

Typically, the athlete will feel or hear a "pop" or a sense that the knee "gave out." The athlete is unable to continue due to pain and instability. The knee usually becomes swollen anywhere from two to six hours after the injury, and it will stay swollen for two to four weeks. When the swelling subsides, the instability is still present and will give the athlete a feeling of unsteadiness.
How is an ACL injury treated?

After a physical exam, an X-ray will be taken to rule out any fracture. An MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan will be taken to get a clear picture of the knee. The MRI will show the soft tissue (ligaments, cartilage and muscle) of the knee. The torn ACL will show up clearly on an MRI. If the athlete wants to continue in his/her sport, ACL reconstruction is necessary. Fifteen or 20 years ago, tearing the ACL meant an athlete’s career was over, but now it is just put on hold until ACL reconstruction surgery and rehabilitation have been completed.
What happens after ACL reconstruction?

The first week after surgery, the athlete will perform gentle range-of-motion exercises, isometrics for strength, and some weight-bearing exercise. As the time progresses, formal physical therapy is started, including advanced strengthening and balance activities.

After about eight to 12 weeks, sport-specific activities are added to the rehab program, such as hopping, jumping and agility drills. The athlete should be able to return to normal activity anywhere from six to nine months following the ACL reconstruction.
Are ACL injuries preventable?

No. ACL injuries are going to occur. However, training techniques have attempted to minimize the risk of tearing the ACL. These include fine motor control of the lower extremities as well as increasing strength, endurance and flexibility. Luckily, with advances in surgical techniques (like ACL reconstruction) and rehabilitation, an ACL knee injury is a season-ending injury – but NOT a career-ending one.

 

[Shakalu M.D.]

I'm not that concerned about the growth plate thing either. These usually heal without complication, the ACL is the more pressing concern in my opinion. I don't think the ACL is all that big of an issue these days. This is especially true if his injury occurred because he rushed back too soon from his growth plate injury (there is some speculation that this is the case).

I suppose Len could be a game changing big at the next level, however I'm not convinced. I know Max likes him a lot, I really haven't seen enough of him to make an accurate judgement. Noel would be my pick.

 

[Cassity14]

Teams that win in this league consistently are able to score at the rim and defend the rim. With Kyrie, Dion, and even Tristan's abilities to score from close on offense, Noel's defensive presence helps with the second part. A potential DPOY candidate at center is too much for me to pass up.

 

[Stark]

If I knew he would have a clean bill of health, I'd move on him over Otto Porter.

Sadly, we don't have that clean bill of health yet - so I'd prefer Porter for now.

 

[Dylan Windler's Mom]

Worth the risk? Absolutely not!

Seriously, you guys really want to learn the hard way, don't cha... smh.

You're willing to sell your soul to the devil thinking and hoping that he's gonna be the best player out of this draft? Forget it. Even when healthy the guy was a complete letdown. I went into the season with high expectations of him, but when I watched him play, the guy was a so underwhelming. No offensive skills. Period. Weak frame. He's just a one dimensional shot blocker, but not even the kind of shot blocker that makes guys think twice about going strong to the rim. You know those kind of guys right? They're the worst. His injury was supposed to be the solidifying factor that would rightfully prevent him from being a top pick.... but the talent in this draft at the top is so weak that people are trying to sell themselves back on the idea. FORGET IT! And mentally, Noel as a 19 year old kid coming off the worst type of knee injury to a knee he already had injured before won't be the same player. He won't be the same fearless player throwing his body out there, if not physically, mentally.

 

[Dylan Windler's Mom]

His Leg went 90 degrees sideways as if his legs are twigs instead of muscle and bone. I want nothing to do with him.

How many players have you ever seen that hurts their leg that badly so easily?

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111903999904576466280330481732.html

What we do know is that knees aren’t supposed to bend sideways to a 90-degree angle, and that anyone in enough pain to have their screams clearly audible on the television broadcast probably won’t be playing for a while.

It’s a knee worth millions upon millions of dollars, one that an NBA General Manager is going to have to look at and decide whether or not it’s worth it to invest some $10-$14 million of guaranteed money in.

A knee isn't meant to be bent 90 degrees sideways. I doubt he will come back the same and can handle a much more physical style of game. Lateral Movement? I think Noel is done. It sure is sad, but I doubt he will be capable of playing a big role in the NBA if he even has a career.