Rumors that Philadelphia 76ers center Nerlens Noel could be traded to the Golden State Warriors for Shaun Livingston is gaining ground after Stephen Curry publicly praised rookie point guard Patrick McCaw following a recent preseason game.

Trade rumors surrounding the Warriors has been limited in the offseason despite the fact that the team is openly searching for a rim-protecting center following Andrew Bogut's departure. So far, the Golden State has signed Zaza Pachulia and David West during the summer, but both veterans do not solve the team's need on the defensive end.

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JaVale McGee is also a new acquisition, but he is reportedly an experiment for head coach Steve Kerr and not a long-term fit for the said position.

There are speculations that one of the Sixers' young big men, Nerlens Noel, is a potential trade target of the Warriors and the sixth overall pick of the 2013 draft seems to fit the bill with his size, length, and defensive prowess.

The Inquisitr reported that Golden State could offer backup point guard Livingston for Noel, but such a deal will likely be rejected by the Sixers as Livingston alone is not enough to compensate for Noel's value.

While Livingston is a productive backup for Curry, he is already 31 years old and had a major knee injury earlier in his career, which means his career is on the decline and he is not a starter-type of player anymore.

Giving up Noel's will be a waste for the Sixers, even as team president and general manager Bryan Colangelo had earlier said that they will "not pull off a trade just for the sake of a trade".

Meanwhile, Curry praised McCaw after their preseason match against the Los Angeles Clippers, saying that last June's 38th overall pick has "got a lot of promise" and that he likes his confidence.

"He doesn't say much, he's very quiet, but when you see his body language, he looks like he belongs and that's half the battle right there," Curry said.

TagsNBA Trade Rumors, NBA Trade Rumors 2016, Nerlens Noel, philadelphia 76ers, shaun livingston, Golden State Warriors