The Charlotte Bobcats will have a top-two lottery chance and thus a good chance to pick Kentucky center Nerlens Noel. Many people, including myself earlier this season, were reluctant to project Noel to the Bobcats as they have a similar defensive/rebounding player in F/C Bismack Biyombo. Though both players are athletic freaks with an exceptional shot-blocking ability and a developing offensive game, this piece attempts to debunk the idea that the two players are the same and that Noel couldn’t fit on a Charlotte squad that already has Biyombo. Below, I have broken down the two players’ scouting reports and then afterwards, I’ve examined what those reports point to as far as player similarity and fit. Noel’s pre-draft scouting report has been obviously used, but Biyombo’s scouting is a mix of his pre-draft report and his first two years of performance. 
Athleticism, Size and Strength:
Noel is an explosive leaper that earns the often-used denotation of a pogo stick jumper. He can take off from anywhere and finish over other players with his 7’4’’ wingspan. In addition to this, Noel runs the floor like a guard, creating points in transition and hitting open lanes quicker than any post player I’ve evaluated not named Anthony Davis (and Davis is probably slower in the open court, albeit laterally quicker). Biyombo is also an above average leaper, though his size and bulk are better weapons for establishing position. Biyombo lacks ideal height for the position but more than makes up for it in length, while Noel has legit size/length for either PF or C. Noel will undoubtedly have to add strength to play in the NBA post, though he is wiry strong (think Kevin Garnett). Leg strength should be his primary concern as it is the reason he gets shoved around down low. Also, Noel’s lack of strength in his legs led to his ACL injury and will have to be improved to prevent further injury. Biyombo leaves little to be desired from a strength point of view, as he is generally the one with the man-child body pushing around the guys built like Noel. Together, these two could mask each other’s deficiencies, as Biyombo could guard stronger, more brute-strength bigs while Noel would be better suited following more fleet-footed bigs or those with elite size. In addition, Biyombo would be better at pounding it inside, while Noel would run the floor and get more transition baskets.
Defense and Rebounding:
Biyombo was known to be an excellent weak side defender and shot-blocker coming into the league, and he has proven that to be the hallmark of his game (1.7 per game – 10th in the NBA this past season). As a post defender, the Congolese player has improved and will do better once he doesn’t have to slide on every defensive possession. He has all the makings of an elite eraser at the back end of the defense while patrolling the paint. Similarly, Noel projects as an elite shot-blocker (4.4 per game), but he has the potential to be a lockdown defender among big men (2.1 steals per game). He has the quickness and athleticism to follow athletic bigs anywhere on the court while also having the length and instincts to be an excellent help defender. As a rebounder, Noel will benefit from adding lower body strength to help him get better positioning instead of relying on his long arms/size. His hands are better than Biyombo’s, but that is not saying much, and they still leave something to be desired. Biyombo has great rebounding instincts, and his numbers will only improve as he learns to squeeze the ball. If these two play together, their combined defensive prowess will compliment each other well, as Biyombo is most comfortable as a weakside defender, while Noel would lock down his man/help allowing Biyombo to roam comfortably. Too often now, Biyombo is forced to slide, and his man gets an easy basket. Adding another talented defensive big would help both shine defensively. As rebounders, the two would compliment each other well as either could rebound and free up the other to get up court for easy buckets (Noel scored 1.667 PPP, or points per possession, in transition).
Offensive/Post Skills, Jump shot, and Quickness:
Nerlens Noel is not the kind of player who creates his own offense well at all, but that is not to say that he has no offensive game. Noel is a pick & roll machine who excels at finding the open lanes and holes in the defense. He also has adequate handles and quickness to blow by slower players, a trait that would help him against big NBA centers. His jump shot lacks fluidity, and he needs to not push the ball to help his outside jumper. Due to the contact-inviting nature of his game, he would benefit from a better free throw percentage (53%). Biyombo came into the league with no offensive game beyond putbacks. He had a few developing post moves, but had no offensive skills to lean on while he worked out his post game. His jump shot is overall less broken than Noel’s, and this has led to some success with it for Biyombo in his second year. The big difference is that no coach would want Biyombo to try to take a man off the dribble; his entire future lies in the post/pick & roll situations. This is where the most controversy between the two players exists: both are known to have almost non-existent offensive games, but they have potential offensive games that are different and would not be redundant if used together. Also, the steps they have to take to become offensive players are different paths with different difficulties. Biyombo came into the league not only lacking a post game, but offensive fundamentals and understanding altogether. He had nothing to fall back on offensively besides his burgeoning post game and putback dunks. Noel, on the other hand, has some semblance of a high-post game involving a quick first step and some basic dribble/drive moves to go along with a likewise burgeoning post game. Noel is also a more explosive finisher, as well as a much better/more mature pick & roll player. Noel scored 1.19 PPP running the pick & roll at Kentucky last year, and he was also proficient finding open lanes for catching passes near the basket. Ultimately, Noel has less of a distance to go to become a different style of offensive player than Biyombo.
NBA Readiness, Intangibles, Potential, and Leadership:
NBA readiness is an issue that I think separates these two players; remember Biyombo had only been playing basketball for a few years.. overseas. Nerlens Noel has a much more natural feel for the game and shows the difference that growing up in the sport makes. Likewise, Noel shows great potential for developing as a player, including on offense, something that was doubted about Biyombo. Both show flashes of leadership ability, but Biyombo has shown that he can lead a team without being its best player.
Nerlens Noel as a Bobcat:
The overall fit of Noel as a Bobcat is much better than most believe as well; he allows them to use him differently depending on whom else they have on the court. When paired with Biyombo, he would play closer to a stretch four on offense, giving Biyombo room to operate and clearing the lane for the team’s other slashers. On defense, the two would clog the lane and provide two sources of help defense. Also, when other players are on the court, he can play closer to the basket in a more Biyombo-like center position. The flexibility of these two players means not having to designate one as a center and the other as a power forward; they are both just interchangeable bigs. This means immense defensive and offensive flexibility, along with an argument against Noel’s redundancy on the Bobcat’s roster. Ultimately, the fit is better than expected, and thus the Bobcats should not hesitate to take Noel if he is available.
– James McNeill
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