Cleveland Cavaliers trade rumors 2016: team looking to pick up 76ers' center Nerlen Noel?

Wikimedia Commons/Cleveland Cavaliers

The current NBA Champion team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, is rumored to take the Philadelphia 76ers center Nerlen Noel for a trade.

According to the Ecumenical News, this off-season the Cavs are pretty busy making major moves to tweak their roster, trading for the guard Mike Dunleavy Jr. to ensure that the team's superstar LeBron James will re-sign a contract. Furthermore, the team was able to ink some deals with center Chris Andersen and Head Coach Tyronn Lue, but despite ensuring that the last season's title-winning core is still intact, the team is still having issues with J.R. Smith in terms of contract.

As such, a lot of fans expect that the Cavaliers will keep their current lineup until the 2016-2017 season opens. However, in case they make any move to add more players for their team, they are certainly expected to get Noel. After all, Cleveland only boasts two true Centers: Tristan Thompson and Andersen. Channing Frye also has the capabilities to play this decision, but often he assumes the Power Forward role instead.

Thompson is certainly going to take the starting position with Andersen as a benchwarmer, since the latter is already 38 years old, though he can still give good results if he is given some play time. Regardless, if the rumors turn out to be true and Noel will be traded to the Cavaliers, the team is expected to perform even better this upcoming season.

Noel was reported to have improved on his offensive capabilities and has been deemed as one of the best rim protectors in the league. This is a good situation for the Cavaliers, since they will have another stringer at center that is also capable of taking on the starting duties.

However, that would mean that the team will have to give up some players. Rumors point that Iman Shumpert and Jordan McRae will be traded off to get Noel. However, it is still unconfirmed so fans should just wait for more updates.