Five years ago, on a humid June evening, I stared at my phone in shock and excitement as I read a Bleacher Report update that scrolled across my screen. The Philadelphia 76ers had traded All-Star Jrue Holiday and a 2nd round pick to the New Orleans Pelicans for Nerlens Noel and a 2014 1st round pick that was top 5 protected. That night, we witnessed the birth of The Process.
Y! Sources: Sixers deal Jrue Holiday to New Orleans for Nerlens Noel and a first-round pick. http://t.co/XzICcc8t1P
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 28, 2013
Five seasons of carefully studying the percentages of ping-pong balls and constructing trades for lackluster vets followed.