A Wednesday morning report indicated that the Pelicans are “openly discussing” Jrue Holiday in trade talks, and while it doesn’t appear there’s any momentum toward a deal at this point, a few Holiday-related items have surfaced in the last 24 hours that are worth passing along.
For instance, Mike Singer of The Denver Post and Will Guillory of The Athletic (Twitter links) have each confirmed that New Orleans is listening to offers for Holiday. However, according to Guillory, the veteran guard hasn’t asked the Pelicans to trade him. Holiday remains optimistic about the Pelicans’ young talent and is open to the idea of making it work in New Orleans, Guillory writes.
Here’s more on the Pelicans’ guard:
- A previous report indicated that the Nets and Pelicans discussed a possible Holiday deal at last season’s trade deadline. According to Guillory, the Heat and Nuggets also “heavily pursued” the 30-year-old prior to the 2020 deadline. That doesn’t mean that all those teams will once again be suitors this offseason, but it seems safe to assume that Brooklyn and Denver will be in the mix. The Heat’s enthusiasm for a Holiday deal may depend on whether they’d be comfortable with the possibility of him exercising his player option for 2021/22.
- Zach Lowe of ESPN thinks the Holiday bidding will probably center on the Nuggets, Nets, and Warriors, along with possibly the Heat, Hawks, and Mavericks. Atlanta is interested in moving the No. 6 overall pick for a win-now veteran, but Lowe doesn’t think that pick would be enough to get it done on its own.
- Lowe is also somewhat skeptical that the Warriors would give up the No. 2 pick for “a 30-year-old who has never made an All-NBA team,” though he acknowledges he might be wrong — especially if New Orleans is willing to send back the No. 13 pick or take on Andrew Wiggins‘ contract.
- Responding to the Holiday trade rumors on Wednesday, Pelicans president of basketball operations David Griffin‘s comments were somewhat opaque (link via Oleh Kosel of The Bird Writes). However, Griffin did seem to confirm that the team is listening to inquires on Holiday.
How would the Warriors acquire Holiday WITHOUT trading Wiggins? It’s not really a question of IF, unless the Dubs would deal Green instead for salary-matching.
Biggest roster need for the Wartiors is of their stars to stay healthy. Simple! The rest is just pushing papers around, if you ask me…
A #2 pick for 1 year of holiday is not worth it. From reports out of warrior office Wiggins has a chip on his shoulder and has bulked up to be in his best shape ever. Wiggins will surprise everyone next year for once being motivated.
Right, and he only has to be a complimentary player to rebuild his overall value. He can basically serve the role of Harrison Barnes, like he once did for the Warriors.
He can take advantage of getting better, more open looks, hustle up and down the court, rebound, and all he has to do is play complimentary team defense.
I think Wiggins can definitely be a positive for the Warriors this season. It is just keeping him there and giving him the chance. He wont have nearly the pressure he had in Minny, and he has to realize this is going to be his best opportunity. I just hope for his sake, he actually gets that chance and the Warriors dont ship him off first.
Anyways, the Warriors would be fools to trade their 2jd pick for Holiday. They can likely get Wiseman and have him as a future stud and difference maker for them for years. Guys that athletic, with such and evolved skillset dont come around very often. When you get the chance to obtain such a player, especially when you’re already a contending team, you don’t pass up that opportunity…
If the man wants to stay let the man stay! For the love of the game! A full year of Zion and suddenly the Pelicopters take flight to the top of the Western Conference. This is a fun team :)
I was saying earlier Heat, GS, Mavs, Denver, Nets, Atlanta, Milwaukee, Phoenix all make some sense if they do end up moving Jrue, but I still want to see that team together with everyone healthy for a little while. Obviously a couple of guys are FA, but I dont know if I would trade him right away
I also think there are cheaper options for some of those teams in FA, although obviously I dont know if they would approach the same impact that Holiday would have
Wiggins is the kind of guy the Hawks need to go after. Little trade value, salary dump essentially, but he’s immediately the second best player on the Hawks roster and he still has upside.
The Pelicans are better off seeing what Ball and Jrue can do together with a full season and a healthy Zion and Ingram. I could definitely see the Pelicans in the Conference Finals next season.
That makes sense but it sure is a lot of money for Jrue Holiday. 26 million this year and 27 million the year after? That is a truckload of cash. I think Holliday’s one great accomplishment was the playoffs a couple years ago when he carried the team on both sides of the ball. His Shining Light was amazing for 3 weeks as he was a lockdown guy and go to scorer. Not sure if he can do that again? Maybe.
The Pelicans making the conference finals? That would be something. I’d say 2nd round would be a real success, 1st round being a more realistic goal.
Dream big or don’t dream at all. Sounds like a nightmare. Have some faith Otogar, please?
I’ts not a question of faith, but of being realistic. The Pelicans are not among the 4 (let alone the 2) best teams in the West, even if Zion delivers what he promises.
Holiday was a great player from 2015 to 2018.
Now he is an average player. He could opt out after one year
Holiday + 13 = 8
Bucks should be first team going after Holiday. Bledsoe can backup Ball. It can start there. Lopez can hold down C position till Hayes grows. They can pull off a trade. Bucks is a good place for Jrue. Could mean NBA Finals.