NBA Draft 2013: New Orleans Pelicans Select Nerlens Noel

May 16, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Nerlens Noel is interviewed during the NBA Draft combine at Harrison Street Athletics Facility. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports /

The New Orleans Pelicans held the No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 NBA draft and made a big splash with Anthony Davis out of Kentucky. The Pelicans would make another big splash with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2013 draft when the team selected Nerlens Noel out of Kentucky as well.

With names like Anthony Davis and Eric Gordon to build around, the team needed to find a special talent at No. 6 overall. Noel is that guy. Gordon has been rumored to be involved in trade talks, but there seems to be a nice three-player core in place.

Here’s NBA.com’s thoughts on Noel:

"Despite the fact he suffered a torn ACL and was limited to just 24 games, Noel is still projected as the No. 1 pick in the draft. His recovery is progressing ahead of schedule, and in a weak draft, he’s one of the only sure bets, because at worst, he’s a player that can control a game from the defensive end."

The Pelicans now have a ridiculously mean interior under the basket that opposing teams are going to have a hard time scoring on. Noel may not see the court for quite some time, but the Kentucky duo of Davis and Noel is going to wreak havoc on the league from a defensive standpoint.

Update

Philadelphia sends Jrue Holiday and a first-round pick in 2014 to New Orleans for Noel, league source says.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 28, 2013

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