ON DEMAND: Bob Cooney Previews the ‘Debut’ of Nerlens Noel in Orlando Summer League

Bob Cooney joined Mike Gill on the “Sports Bash” on Thursday afternoon to preview the Philadelphia 76ers Orlando Summer League, which gets underway on Saturday June 5th at 1pm against the host Orlando Magic. Cooney talked about what fans should expect from Nerlens Noel.

“They’re going to let him go,” said Cooney. “They’re going to ask him to run the floor. They’re going to ask him to rebound. They’re going to ask him to get some putbacks. Defensively, block shots. So similar to what you will see in the regular season.”

Noel missed all of the 2013-14 season due to a torn ACL in his left knee and the Sixers are anticipating his return to the court this season.

Cooney also spoke about other players that he’s looking forward to watching in the Summer League.

“This kid Pierre Jackson kind of intrigues me a little bit,” Cooney said. “5’10” guy who the Sixers drafted last year, but then traded to New Orleans in this Nerlens trade, and he went on to average close to 30 points in the development league. Jerami Grant, 2nd round pick out of Syracuse, obviously he is a guy that you want to take a look at. Then going out to Las Vegas, you will have K.J. McDaniels your 2nd round pick.”

Mike also asked Cooney about the possibility of the Sixers landing Jeremy Lin from the Houston Rockets, who has one year left on his contract.

“Everybody is trying to unload big salaries on the Sixers because they know they can take it,” said Cooney. “They know the direction of the Sixers is they can take a salary, and you can get rid of that contract and now you’re still in play with the money that you saved and what you have. Jeremy Lin absolutely makes sense for the Sixers and plus you can’t deny the relationship Sam Hinkie has with Houston, so it wouldn’t be a surprise to me at all.

“The phone calls I made, they still don’t know anything. I think Houston is still waiting to see if they can land a Carmelo Anthony or not.”

Ky Carlin contributed to this report.

LISTEN to Bob Cooney with Mike Gill: