Philadelphia 76ers center Nerlens Noel has been in the rumor mill since the end of last season and the latest team reportedly having an interest in the young center is the Los Angeles Lakers.

Sporting News' Sean Deveney reported that the Lakers are the newest team to express interest in trading for the 22-year-old former Kentucky standout. Deveney said that the Hollywood club "had talks with Atlanta about Paul Millsap" and are now looking at Noel after the Hawks pulled back Millsap from the trade market.

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However, the Lakers are said to be unwilling to part ways with any of their young core, which includes D'Angelo Russell, Julius Randle, Brandon Ingram, Jordan Clarkson, and Larry Nance Jr., to complete a trade. Of the five, the most likely to get moved, though, are Clarkson and Nance Jr., according to rumors.

Deveney suggested that the best trade package that the Lakers could offer the Sixers right now is a future first-round pick, possibly their 2021 first-rounder, and veteran forward Luol Deng, who was just signed last summer to a four-year, $72 million deal.

Los Angeles owe Philly their first-round pick this summer if it does not land in the top three thru the lottery. If it does land in the top three, then the Lakers are sure to give the Sixers their first-rounder in the summer of 2018.

Meanwhile, SB Nation indicated that Noel-to-the-Lakers "makes perfect sense" for the Hollywood franchise as the team is still one of the worst defensive groups in the NBA right now.

Having Noel in the starting lineup will compensate for Randle and the wings' weaknesses, which would instantly make the Lakers a better defensive squad.

The report noted, though, that the Sixers might be reluctant to have a deal with the Lakers because the latter has virtually nothing to offer that would give Philadelphia any value moving forward.

Even if LA includes Clarkson in the trade package, it would still be not enough to make up for Noel's value in Philly as a substitute defender and "potential insurance" for Joel Embiid, who is still under a playing time restriction.

TagsNBA Trade Rumors, NBA Trade Rumors 2017, Nerlens Noel, philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Lakers