76ers' Nerlens Noel (knee) to have minor procedure

Philadelphia 76ers forward/center Nerlens Noel (knee, groin) has elected to address his injury via a minor surgical procedure "in the coming days," according to the team.

What It Means:

This is separate from his groin issue, but it means he'll be on the sidelines to start the season. Per the 76ers, "Noel reported localized soreness in his left knee. After consulting with multiple specialists, the source of the soreness was identified as inflamed plica." Per usual, Philadelphia will err on the side of caution with his recovery. Noel isn't a must-draft fantasy option, while Richaun Holmes and Joel Embiid stand to benefit with more minutes.

Our models project Noel to average 12.1 points, 7.9 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.5 blocks in 28.1 minutes a game this season.