5 teams New Orleans Pelicans could trade Jrue Holiday to

Option 4: Philadelphia 76ers

This would be a risky trade to be sure. Former #1 draft pick Markelle Fultz has already had to navigate one of the most historically weird and uncertain starts to an NBA career ever. His shot has looked completely broken at times, and the injuries he’s been battling since coming into the league have been misdiagnosed, misreported, and potentially covered up. It’s been interesting and confusing to follow.

Still, there is a reason he was drafted first overall last season, and as soon as he gets healthy, the Pelicans would pray that he is able to get his game back on track and turn into the player everyone thought he would be. If he never does, at least the Pelicans would also receive rookie guard Zhaire Smith, who looks to be a very nice asset as soon as he comes back from a foot injury. The first round pick New Orleans gets here will likely be later in the first round, but there is value to be had there.

The 76ers were the team that drafted Jrue Holiday, and it’s where he was playing when he received his first and only all-star selection. Philly gets to move on from the Markelle Fultz Saga, and rolls out an insane starting lineup featuring Jrue Holiday, Ben Simmons, Jimmy Butler, and Joel Embiid, instantly vaulting them to be the favorites to make the NBA Finals this season in the East if they could figure out everyone’s dynamics together by the postseason, which is why Philly also could throw in a second round pick in this deal. This is a win-now move for the Sixers.