The New Orleans Pelicans selected Branden Dawson of Michigan State with the 56th overall pick of the NBA draft Thursday night.
The Orange County Register, citing a source, reported the move cost the Clippers approximately $600,000.
Dawson is a 6-foot-6 power forward who blocked a school record 142 shots for the Spartans, who reached the Final Four.
The Pelicans acquired the 56th pick from Memphis as part of the three-team trade that sent guards Austin Rivers to Boston and Russ Smith to Memphis. Quincy Pondexter was reacquired from the Grizzlies as part of that deal.
Of all the players selected with the 56th pick (dating to 1995), 11 have gone on to play in the NBA. Seven of the 56 have been international players.
The Pelicans didn’t have a pick in the first round. They traded this year’s first round pick last summer in a deal that brought center Omer Asik to the Pelicans from the Houston Rockets.
They selected Nerlens Noel in the first round in 2013 but traded him to the Philadelphia 76ers in the deal for Jrue Holiday. The Pelicans also gave up their 2014 first-round pick as well in that trade.