NBA trade rumors 2016: Nerlens Noel heading to Boston to join Celtics?

Teams comprising the National Basketball Association (NBA) are currently busy this offseason as they go about making pitches to free agents and negotiate over trades before the next regular season opens.

Currently, Nerlens Noel has been the subject of numerous trade rumors, particularly with the Boston Celtics. Latest reports from NBA rumor land suggest that Celtics is eyeing to trade one or some of their players like Marcus Smart, James Young, Avery Bradley, Terry Rozier, Demetrious Jackson, R.J. Hunter, and Abdel Nader to the Philadelphia 76ers for Noel. According to Sportsrageous, the Celtics understand very well that the Sixers badly need a point guard and wing players to boost their roster.

The speculations were apparently triggered by an intriguing tweet by Noel declaring love for his native city of Boston. As if it wasn't enough to cause a stir, the Sixers center also took the Philadelphia skyline off his Twitter page header.

Aside from Noel's affection for his hometown, a report by CSNNE revealed that the Philadelphia big man is reportedly "very open" to trade per multiple NBA sources. Although a deal has not been confirmed for now, the speculations surrounding his migration to Boston are not entirely impossible. After all, the Sixers will have more than enough center players to spare and the Celtics could use Noel's shot-blocking skills on the hardcourt. With five big men currently in its roster, Philadelphia may eventually have to let go at least one of them to avoid locker room tension.

If Noel remains in Philadelphia, he would have to compete for minutes with other frontcourt benchers like NBA overall draft pick Ben Simmons, Dario Saric, Jahlil Okafor, and Joel Embiid.

Noel was 2013 NBA Draft's sixth overall pick. He played over 29.3 minutes throughout the 2015–16 season and posted an average of 11.1 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game, according to Elias Sports Bureau as reported by ESPN.