NBA Trade Rumors: Pelicans ready to trade Jrue Holiday?
NBA Trade Rumors: The New Orleans Pelicans appear willing to move Jrue Holiday, and a bidding war will almost certainly come next
Over the next few weeks, it’s expected that the NBA trade rumor mill will heat up. We’ve already heard the likes of DeMar DeRozan, Kevin Love, LaMarcus Aldridge, and Andre Iguodala as names that could be potentially moved. However, they won’t be the last.
On cue, another big name is reportedly now on the trade block.
According to New York Times scribe Marc Stein, due to the Pelicans’ slow start (which probably has a lot to do with the injury to Zion Williamson), Jrue Holiday is a player that is “indeed available” via trade.
Yet what that also means is Jrue Holiday is indeed available via trade, league sources say. It would surely cost a significant amount to pry him away from the Pels, but this is a notable change in status given how unavailable Holiday was to interested teams last season
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) December 17, 2019
As Stein notes, any team hoping to land Holiday will certainly have to come with a godfather package. Holiday, at 29, is in the midst of his prime and is averaging 19 points, five rebounds, and seven assists per game while shooting 45 percent from the field and 34 percent from 3-point range.
He’s also a plus defender and is one of the most underrated players at his position. He’s the type of player that could take a team over the top, or solidify a contender atop of their respective conferences.
A few teams that would be ideal fits for Holiday, who could really play either guard positions, are the Orlando Magic, Miami Heat, Toronto Raptors, or even the Dallas Mavericks.
Though, it won’t be cheap. There will likely be a pricey bidding war for Holiday, and it will almost certainly start with a couple of first-round picks or at least one pick and a young, promising player or prospect.
With that said, it should be noted that the Pelicans likely aren’t in any rush to move Holiday either. If the right deal comes around, New Orleans should move in. However, there’s no rush. Holiday can’t become a free agent until after next season, and at his age, he’d still carry significant value.
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Jrue Holiday is the type of player that could change the dynamic in one of the conferences and could catapult a team up a few spots in the standings.