Noel Trade Becomes Official

The Philadelphia 76ers announced today that they have acquired the rights to the sixth overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft Nerlens Noel and a 2014 first round pick from New Orleans in exchange for guard Jrue Holiday and the 42nd pick in the 2013 NBA Draft.

“The draft is an important pipeline of talent for our team and our intention was to add players who could position us well for the future, while also allowing us to capitalize on attractive opportunities to acquire top-flight talent or additional future draft choices,” said Sixers President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Sam Hinkie. “Nerlens Noel and an additional 2014 first round draft choice give us two new opportunities to add talent to our team.”

Noel (6-11, 228) averaged 10.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 2.1 steals and an NCAA-best 4.4 blocks while shooting 59.0% from the floor in 24 games as a freshman for Kentucky this past season.

The 19-year-old was named SEC Defensive Player of the Year and SEC Freshman of the Year as well as First Team All-SEC.  He joined Anthony Davis, the first overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, as the only two players in Kentuckyhistory to record at least 50 steals and 50 blocks in the same season.

Coming out of high school, Noel was the top-rated player by both ESPNU recruiting and Scout.com and the second-best prospect by Rivals.  He was also named the USA Today National Player of the Year.  Noel was an AAU teammate of Michael Carter-Williams, who the Sixers selected with the 11th overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft.

Holiday (6-4, 205) was originally the 17th overall pick by Philadelphia in the 2009 NBA Draft.  In four seasons with the Sixers, Holiday averaged 13.4 points, 5.8 assists, 3.6 rebounds and 1.43 steals in 298 games played.