June 27th, 2013. The 2013 NBA Draft was upon us and Nerlens Noel was tumbling down the draft. The New Orleans Pelicans, with their first official act under their new moniker, selected Noel with the sixth overall pick. Lottery luck, which gave the then-Hornets the right to draft Anthony Davis the year prior, had not been kind to the Pelicans. They slid back one spot as the Washington Wizards leap frogged them from eighth to third. Injury concerns pushed Noel, thought by many to be the best prospect available, down the draft.
Pelicans rebuild continues ahead of schedule
