76ers select Carter-Williams, deal Holiday

Modified: June 28, 2013 at 12:50 am • Published: June 28, 2013

Philadelphia 76ers' Jrue Holiday in action during an NBA basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers, in this March 18, 2013 file photo taken in Philadelphia. Pierre Jackson will be going to the New Orleans Pelicans as part of the trade that sends sixth-overall pick Nerlens Noel to the Sixers. A person familiar situation says the Pelicans acquired All-Star point guard Jrue Holiday in the Thursday June 27, 2013 trade with the Sixers. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File)

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Philadelphia 76ers are taking another gamble on a big man with bad knees.
With the Andrew Bynum debacle seemingly behind them, the Sixers made a splash Thursday night in the NBA draft when they acquired Nerlens Noel from New Orleans for All-Star guard Jrue Holiday.

Noel, out of Kentucky, had a March 12 operation to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament. The 6-foot-10 post player expects to return to the court by Christmas, a long road back likely to involve countless hours of rehabilitation.
A person familiar with the trade says the Pelicans sent Noel, the sixth overall pick, and a protected 2014 first-round pick to the Sixers for Holiday and the Sixers' second-round selection — 42nd overall — in this year's draft. The person spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the trade had not been announced.
Noel was still wearing a New Orleans Pelicans hat in New York when he learned he was traded.
"They've got a great organization there, too. I'm just staying positive about everything," he said. "It shows how much confidence they have in me. I'm just looking to get down there and work hard."
With the Sixers suddenly in the market for a point guard, they selected Syracuse's Michael Carter-Williams with the 11th pick.
Carter-Williams, a 6-foot-6, 185-pound guard, played two seasons at Syracuse. He led the Orange in assists (7.3) and steals (2.8) and averaged 11.9 points last season.
General manager Sam Hinkie came out swinging in his first draft running the team. Hinkie traded the Sixers' best player and acquired a big man to go along with a bounty of draft picks for next season.
The Sixers were in the draft lottery mostly because Bynum never played a game for them because of bone bruises in both his knees. Philadelphia also cleared Holiday's $41 million contract off the books, giving them plenty of cap space to continue to reshape a team that went 34-48 last season. The Sixers still have not hired a coach two months after Doug Collins resigned.
Hinkie said he has not yet interviewed any candidates for the vacancy. Michael Curry, who worked on Collins' staff, will coach the 76ers summer league team.
Hired on May 14, Hinkie made his first draft night a memorable one by sending Holiday to New Orleans. Hinkie could not yet discuss the trade, but alluded to the difficulty of dealing the popular All-Star.
"It was a challenging night in a bunch of ways with one gut-wrenching phone call," Hinkie said. "All in all, I think the right thing to do." ---------------------- NEWSOK