UPDATE: While this has certainly been a rough couple of days for Nerlens Noel, the talented big man still has plenty to look forward to. Our own Chad Ford noted yesterday that Noel's torn ACL likely ends any chance he had at being the top pick in this summer's NBA draft. But he also points out that the incident shouldn't necessarily drop him too far on most draft boards. NBA GMs seem a little hesitant to use the No. 1 pick on a player coming off an injury like this, but they're certainly not going to let someone with his tremendous upside drop very far. Ford suggests he's likely still a top-five pick as long as his rehab goes well and he's able to get back to full strength in the six to eight month timetable that Kentucky has put on his return. To that end, he lists Noel at No. 3 on his updated big board.
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