Brooklyn, NY – The Philadelphia 76ers have reportedly agreed to trade All-Star point guard Jrue Holiday to New Orleans for Kentucky center Nerlens Noel and a 2014 protected first-round draft pick.
ESPN reports the Pelicans also will receive the 42nd overall pick in Thursday night's NBA draft.
The trade comes as a shock considering the Sixers signed Holiday to a four-year, $41 million extension that includes $5 million in incentives prior to last season.
The 23-year-old Holiday, a first-round draft pick in 2009 out of UCLA, averaged 17.7 points and 8.0 assists over 78 games last season. He joined Wilt Chamberlain (1967-68) as the only players in franchise history to average at least 17.0 points and 8.0 assists in a single season.
Over his first four seasons, Holiday has averaged 13.4 points and 5.8 assists in 298 contests.
The 6-foot-10 Noel was chosen No. 6 overall by the Pelicans in Thursday's draft. His only season at Kentucky was cut short by a torn ACL in his left knee. He played 24 games before suffering the injury in February against Florida.
Noel had surgery a month later, once swelling subsided, but his recovery was expected to take between 6-8 months.
The 19-year-old averaged 10.5 points for the Wildcats and led the SEC in rebounding at 9.5 per game while topping the nation in blocked shots at 4.4 per outing.
Philadelphia took Holiday's potential replacement in Syracuse point guard Michael Carter-Williams with the No. 11 pick on Thursday night.
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.