Sixers finally confirm Holiday deal

Nerlens Noel is a Sixer

By John McMullen
jmcmullen@phanaticmag.com

PHILADELPHIA - The NBA's business moratorium along with his recent marriage to U.S. soccer star Lauren Cheney slowed things down a bit but the Philadelphia 76ers have finally confirmed the draft night deal which sent All-Star guard Jrue Holiday to New Orleans.

The Sixers acquired the rights to the sixth overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, Nerlens Noel, and a 2014 first round pick from the Pelicans in exchange for Holiday and the 42nd pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, Pierre Jackson.

"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-foot-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 percent 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 Kentucky history 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.

Noels is currently convalescing from ACL surgery and is not expected to play until at least Christmas.

Holiday (6-foot-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.

In 2013, the 23-year-old UCLA product averaged 17.7 points and 8.0 assists per game en route to his first NBA All-Star Selection. Holiday was the only player in the NBA to average totals of 17.0-plus points per game and 9.0-plus assists and was the third youngest member of the 2013 NBA All-Star rosters.

"Jrue is the ideal fit for our team having already established himself as an All-Star guard at the age of 23," said Pelicans General Manager Dell Demps. "His leadership abilities also fit the culture we are developing for our franchise and he will be an integral addition to the Pelicans family for many years to come."

"We are very pleased with the opportunity to add a high character player with talent and experience to our roster like Jrue," added NOLA Head Coach Monty Williams. "We believe he will be an integral part of our program and help us continue in the positive direction we are headed as a team."

Jackson, the 42nd overall pick in this year’s June 27th NBA Draft, comes to the Pelicans after leading the Big 12 Conference in points per game (19.8) and assists per game (7.1) in his senior season at Baylor University.

Jackson played his final two years at Baylor after transferring from junior college at the College of Southern Idaho.  The five foot ten inch, 180 pound guard led the Baylor Bears to an NIT title this last April. Pierre Jackson will participate in the 2013 NBA Summer League with the Pelicans in Las Vegas, NV beginning on July 12th.