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Pelicans Draft Nerlens Noel, Then Send Him To Philly

NBA

The New Orleans Pelicans drafted Kentucky forward Nerlens Noel sixth overall in the 2013 NBA draft Thursday night, and almost immediately traded him and a 2014 first-round pick to Philadelphia for guard Jrue Holiday and the 2013 draft's 42nd pick, Pierre Jackson, a point guard out of Baylor University.

Holiday has averaged 13.4 points, 5.8 assists and 3.6 rebounds per game in his four seasons with the 76ers. He averaged 17.7 points and 5.8 assists per game in an All-Star year this past season.

Noel was considered by many NBA analytics to be a contender for the first pick overall, despite surgery on a torn ACL in his left knee that will sideline him until at least December.

The top five picks in next year's draft are protected; if New Orleans earns one of those picks they will keep it instead of turning it over to Philadelphia.

Jason Saul served as WWNO's Director of Digital Services. In 2017 he took a position at BirdNote, in Seattle.

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