Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday has continued to register league-wide interest, with several teams looking to acquire a top-10 draft pick in hopes of flipping it in a deal for the 30-year-old, according to Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated (Twitter link).
Several rival executives have mentioned the Nuggets as a strong threat to acquire Holiday, Mannix adds. Denver has a unique combination of veterans and young talent that could be used in a potential deal, with Holiday holding a $27.1MM player option in his contract after next season.
Holiday, an 11-year NBA veteran, is known for being one of the league’s most accomplished defenders. In addition to his impressive defensive play, he averaged 19.1 points, 6.7 assists and 4.8 rebounds last season, shooting a respectable 45.5% from the floor.
Here are some other notes from the Southwest Division:
- Veteran forward Corey Brewer is joining the Pelicans in a player development role, according to Mark Berman of Fox 26 (Twitter link). Assuming this is it for Brewer’s playing career, the 34-year-old spent 13 seasons with eight different teams, most recently with the Kings. Brewer held career-averages of 8.7 points, 2.8 rebounds and 22.9 minutes per game, appearing in a total of 819 contests.
- A potential shake-up would make sense for the Spurs, a team that last won an NBA championship during the 2013/14 season, Mike Finger of The San Antonio Express-News writes. The Spurs have fielded interest for both DeMar DeRozan and LaMarcus Aldridge in recent weeks after finishing with a 32-39 record last season.
- The Mavericks have hired Jazz assistant Zach Guthrie as part of Rick Carlisle‘s staff, replacing Stephen Silas, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski tweets. Silas recently left Dallas to accept a head coaching position with the Rockets, the first of his professional career. Guthrie had been an assistant with the Jazz since 2015, previously serving as an assistant video coordinator with the Spurs and advanced scouting manager with the Magic.
Small towns don’t care about hard capped
Sign and trade
Harris and Craig for Holiday and Moore
Or any Pelicans for salary dump
In case nobody said it before, Jrue Holiday is one of the best defenders in the league.
If I’m the Spurs I’d be going to a rebuild and with the Lakers using Danny Green to get Dennis. I doubt DeRozan makes it their now so I’d be shopping him. Same with Aldridge shop him too.
Spurs should trade LaMarcus Aldridge and Trey Lyles for Gordan Hayward and one of the Boston’s three firsts (probably 26th).
Then try use that extra first plus DeMare DeRozan for Aaron Gordon and Mo Bamba.
Gordon doesn’t fit well in Orlando having to play SF with Issac at the 4 and he’s now just about to enter the last year on his deal. Same with Bamba he was selected in the top 10 of the draft and hasn’t played much minutes or had much of a role in Orlando for the past 2 seasons. Instead the Magic get DeRozan a former all star who can help lead them to the playoffs. Plus be a leader for their young players like Fultz and Issac. Plus the Magic would be gaining another first this year.
Spurs on the other had would be landing a nice 3 in Hayward to be a leader and contributor for their young players, his expiring deal would be a nice asset for either trading at the deadline or clearing cap space for a free agent. Then you also add Aaron Gordon who would work well with Murray, White, Walker and Johnson the Spurs all ready young players. Then Bamba at the 5 is interesting and could be a great find.
Celtics would be adding a nice experienced big in Aldridge to help work along with Walker Tatum Brown and Smart. Plus Lyles would be handy as a 4/5 that can stretch the floor off the bench.
Celtics
1. Walker. (Draft a PG 15th) Edwards
2. Brown. Smart. Langford
3. Tatum. Ojeleye (Draft a SF 30th)
4. Aldridge. GWilliams
5. Theis. Lyles. RWilliams
Draft someone like RJ Hampton, Cole Anthony, Kira Lewis, Theo Maledon..
With the 30th pick take a wing like Jordan Nowra, Jaden McDaniels, Tyler Bey or Cassius Stanley