Could Nerlens fall out of the top three?

With little over two weeks left until the NBA Draft, it appears the top three teams are getting a little nervous about Nerlens Noel’s knee, and are considering passing on him. A player-personnel executive tells the Charlotte Observer’s Rick Bonnell that Nerlens falling to the fourth pick is a “real possibility” because of uncertainty about his knee. It also doesn’t help that Nerlens hasn’t signed an agent yet, which makes finding information about his rehab more difficult. The source predicted that the top three in the draft (Cleveland, Orlando and Washington) will instead be Anthony Bennett, Ben McLemore, and Otto Porter, which would allow the Charlotte Bobcats to take Noel with the fourth pick.

While he doesn’t come out and say Nerlens will fall to fourth, ESPN’s Chad Ford does admit that Nerlens’ hold on the number one pick is more tenuous than ever:

Nerlens has a chance to change at least Washington and Cleveland’s minds when he meets with them on the 14th and 20th. While it would be a shame to see Nerlens fall out of the top three, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t excited about the possibility of him and MKG being on the same team.