After choosing to have minor surgical procedure to address an inflamed plica above his left knee, Philadelphia 76ers forward/center Nerlens Noel will be sidelined three to five weeks, sources told Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Dr. Riley Williams will scope the area during a 10-minute procedure on Monday. Noel is expected to still feel pain around the area after the procedure, but the pain will decrease as his knee heals.

The 6-foot-11 big man started to feel pain during the Sixers' first preseason game against the Boston Celtics on Oct. 4 and has been sidelined since.

Noel is the most likely candidate to be traded to ease the front-court logjam involving Joel Embiid, Jahlil Okafor, and himself, as he'll become a restricted free agent at the end of the season and he's yet to get an extension offer from the team.

Whether he remains on the team or is shipped elsewhere, much of that will depend on his health and his ability to put up consistent numbers again this season.

Nerlens Noel averaged 11.1 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.8 steals, and 1.5 blocks per game last season.