PHILADELPHIA—The NBA champion Miami Heat selected Mississippi State forward Arnett Moultrie with the 27th pick in Thursday's draft and dealt him to the 76ers for a second-round pick and a future first-rounder.

Philadelphia already took St. John's forward Maurice Harkless with the 15th pick. Now they get the big man many figured they would take earlier.

Moultrie averaged 16.4 points and 10.5 rebounds last season for Mississippi State. The 6-foot-11 Moultrie spent his first two college seasons at Texas-El Paso, where he averaged 9.3 points in 70 games.

Moultrie entered the 2010 NBA draft before withdrawing his name from consideration. He was second in the SEC in scoring last season and led the league in rebounding—coming in ahead of the No. 1 pick, Kentucky's Anthony Davis in that department.

The Heat get the 45th pick in this year's draft and a future No. 1.