For NBA fans, Wednesday morning began with a Shams bomb. The Athletic’s Shams Charania broke the news about the New Orleans Pelicans discussing trade offers for Jrue Holiday. Following that, many contending teams like the Nets, Warriors, and the Lakers were linked to the two-time All-Defensive player.
Now, Pelicans executive vice president for basketball operations, David Griffin has come out with a statement to address those reports.
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In that lengthy statement, Griffin thanked Holiday for his service and just confirmed Charania’s tweet. “You think something must’ve happened as though it was newsworthy that we were listening to trade discussions around a player. That’s our job. We’ve done that since I got here. We’ve had similar conversations at last year’s trade deadline.”
Marc Stein had reported back in December 2019 that the Pelicans have started listening to offers. Nothing materialized since then, so the Pelicans are still looking for the right offer for their star.
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Why are the Pelicans shopping Holiday?
After the Pelicans brought in Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson, Holiday moved further away from the spotlight. But he quietly put in the work, averaging 19.1 points, 6.7 assists, and 1.6 steals per game. Despite being solid on defense, he was snubbed from an All-Defensive team spot.
Post the Anthony Davis trade, the Pelicans are going for a younger team. The 30-year-old Holiday is currently making $26 million and has a player option in the following season. While his leadership and experience would be key for a young team like the Pelicans, they might expect him to decline and leave just as the players hit their prime.
Which contending team is leading the race to sign him?
The three main teams in the fray are the Warriors, Nets, and the Lakers. Out of the three teams, the Lakers might be the least likely to acquire him. Both Nets and Warriors have much better assets. The Nets have Caris LeVert and Spencer Dinwiddie, who would be the focal point if they execute the trade. On the other hand, the Warriors have Andrew Wiggins as well as the #2 overall pick.
Holiday has never played on a contending team, but having him as the third option will be a luxury for any team fighting for the title.
ALSO READ – With Jrue Holiday on the Market, Can The Los Angeles Lakers Bring Him In?
