76ers' Nerlens Noel (hip) expected to play Tuesday

Philadelphia 76ers center Nerlens Noel (hip) did not practice on Monday, but he is expected to play in Tuesday's preseason opener.

What It Means:

Noel is dealing with a sore hip and is "scheduled" to play, but it wouldn't be surprising if the team plays it safe and holds him back as a precaution.

Either way, there's no reason for alarm, and Noel appears to be just fine. After an impressive rookie campaign, Noel is coming off the board in the fourth round of drafts. He averaged 9.9 points and 8.1 rebounds, but it was his 1.9 blocks which made him such a valuable fantasy commodity a year ago.