Nerlens Noel traded to Philadelphia 76ers for Jrue Holiday, according to report

Nerlens Noel has been traded to the Philadelphia 76ers for Jrue Holiday. The Sixers will also receive a first round pick in next year's draft.

By Scott Schroeder Jun 27, 2013, 8:27pm EDT

The New Orleans Pelicans drafted Nerlens Noel with the sixth pick in Thursday night's NBA Draft, but it turns out Noel won't be teaming up with fellow Kentucky Wildcats alum Anthony Davis. He's been traded to the Philadelphia 76ers, along with a first-round pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, for Jrue Holiday, according to Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski. The Pelicans will receive the 42nd pick in this draft, Wojnarowski also reported.

The pick will be top-five protected, according to New Orleans AP writer Brett Martel.

Noel was expected to be a top five selection and, according to most, was going to be selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers with the first overall pick. The Cavs went with Anthony Bennett, however, allowing Noel to slide to the Pelicans with the sixth pick.

Holiday is one of the top young point guards in the NBA. For the Sixers' new front office, getting a centerpiece for the future certainly had to be a priority -- especially after last season's debacle with Andrew Bynum.