Pelicans Acquire All-Star Point Guard Jrue Holiday and Second Round Pick Pierre Jackson

News Release

PELICANS ACQUIRE ALL STAR POINT GUARD JRUE HOLIDAY AND 2ND ROUND PICK PIERRE JACKSON IN EXCHANGE FOR TWO FIRST ROUND PICKS

July 12, 2013

The New Orleans Pelicans announced today that they have acquired 2013 All Star Point Guard Jrue Holiday and Pierre Jackson, the 42nd overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, in exchange for the Pelicans first pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, with whom they selected Kentucky F Nerlens Noel, as well as the Pelicans top five lottery protected first round selection in next year’s draft.

“Jrue is the ideal fit for our team having already established himself as an All-Star guard at the age of 23,” said 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,” said 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.”

Holiday, a six foot three inch 180 pound point guard, was the 17th pick in the 2009 NBA Draft. He holds career averages of 13.4 points, 5.8 assists and 1.4 steals per game in 298 games played in his four year career with the Philadelphia 76ers. In 2013, the 23 year old product of UCLA 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+ points per game and 9.0+ assists per game and was the third youngest member of the 2013 NBA All-Star rosters.

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.