Noel still sees issue with Sixers' center logjam

Nerlens Noel still foresees a trade in the near future for his Philadelphia 76ers.

Noel is on the mend following a preseason knee injury, and his eventual return will bring back Philadelphia's problem of having three starting-caliber centers between Noel, Jahlil Okafor, and breakout star Joel Embiid.

Something has to give - a conclusion Noel pointed out before the season and backed up again Friday.

"I don't think the roster's changed," he told Jessica Camerato of CSN Philly when asked about the situation. "So, I don't think the roster's changed."

Noel hasn't demanded a trade (although reports suggest he wants out), but the impending free agent would clearly benefit from a more advantageous role in a contract year.

That reality isn't lost on anyone, says head coach Brett Brown, who has the unenviable task of keeping everyone happy in an impossible situation.

"I feel like he likes being around his teammates," Brown said of Noel. "His teammates like being around him. Everybody understands that's a little bit awkward. Everybody understands that there is some level of a logjam at a position. We all get it, we all talk freely about it. So there's no elephant in the room as it relates to any of that type of stuff."

Noel holds averages of 10.5 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.8 steals, and 1.7 blocks across two seasons in Philadelphia. He'll be a restricted free agent this summer.