Young NBA center Nerlens Noel is reportedly close to being traded after he recently turned down a contract extension offer from the Philadelphia 76ers.

Noel, 22, is in his third NBA season after getting selected sixth overall in the 2013 NBA Draft. He missed the entirety of what should have been his rookie season because of a knee injury but came back in the next season to become one of the league's top rookies.

Like Us on Facebook

The former Kentucky standout has emerged as one of the top young big men today. He averaged 11.1 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.8 steals, and 1.5 shot blocks per game last season, making him one of the best two-way players in the league.

However, Noel's place in Philadelphia is currently being threatened with 2014 third overall pick Joel Embiid finally suiting up to play after getting shelved for two seasons because of a foot injury.

With Embiid around, the Sixers have a logjam of young centers with 2015 third overall pick Jahlil Okafor also in the lineup. Adding the team's other young bigs of Dario Saric and this year's top pick Ben Simmons to the mix shows how unbalanced Philly's roster is at the moment.

With that, Noel has become one of the most mentioned players in the NBA rumor mill. The speculations particularly gained ground after Noel and the Sixers failed to reach a contract extension agreement on Monday's deadline, according to CBS Local Philadelphia.

Noel is also currently sidelined with a knee injury that requires surgery, and there is no timetable yet for his return.

All these factors are pointing to an inevitable separation with the Sixers sooner or later, but there are rumors that it will happen in or before this season's February trade deadline.

Fansided indicated that the Blazers could make a move for Noel in midseason as the team has a host of assets to offer Philadelphia in return.

With the Sixers current need for wing players, Portland could offer Allen Crabbe, Evan Turner, or Moe Harkless with other secondary pieces as the Blazers has a surplus of players in the said position.

TagsNBA Trade Rumors, NBA Trade Rumors 2016, Nerlens Noel, philadelphia 76ers, Portland Trail Blazers