Jrue Holiday: Too valuable for New Orleans Pelicans to find fair trade
Jrue Holiday trade rumors are becoming more prevalent as the NBA Playoffs roll on. New Orleans Pelicans fans are tired of dealing with the speculation of stars leaving the Smoothie King Center.
Anthony Davis and Jrue Holiday were supposed to be the New Orleans Pelicans’ star pairing of the present and future. Davis trade rumors began during his rookie campaign, mostly emanating from Boston. Davis trade speculation was expected, even before his demand increased attention. While AD’s eventual departure shouldn’t be shocking, any Jrue Holiday trade would be totally unexpected, and very ill-advised were David Griffin to entertain the idea.
The case for trading Jrue Holiday revolves around a tanking mentality. New Orleans is not a tanking town, unless we are making level of drunkenness puns. Holiday is a born competitor and the type of winner that can champion a small market team with no championships. It is obvious now that Holiday is arguably the most beloved Pelican ever.
Holiday did not become the Pelicans People’s Champ over night, or by accident. In becoming the cornerstone of the Pelicans’ future, Holiday had to face rejection and other more serious hardships. Philadelphia deemed Jrue surplus to requirements for The Process and decided to move on.
Holiday was sent to New Orleans for Nerlens Noel and the Pelicans’ 2014 first-round draft pick. The Pelicans’ injury luck being what it is, Holiday suffered a season ending stress fracture halting his first season with the team in February.
The Pelicans stuck by Holiday, even while sticking it to Philadelphia for failures to disclose Holiday’s injury history. There were only reports of optimism, never any buyer’s remorse quotes from the organization.
The most dire of situations came up during the summer of 2016. Lauren Holiday, Jrue’s wife, was found to have a brain tumor that needed an operation. But the operation would have to wait. The Holiday’s were expecting a child.
The Benson family stood with Holiday, doing whatever they could to let Jrue know that he could take his time. Taking care of family is the only priority worth considering when your pregnant wife is found to need a brain operation. There is no way to be calmed or eased, but the Pelicans did their best to not pressure the Holidays. They were welcome members of the Pelicans family no matter when Jrue came back into the lineup.
The Holidays were here for the unfortunate events that affected Ryan Anderson. The Holiday family understands the this basketball team is about existing for more reasons than regular season wins. This city is embracing the Pelicans at a decent rate, but the fans can be fickle.
The Pelicans cannot go into a “Process” without some principles. Griffin said in his opening press conference remarks that Jrue was the type of player he wanted to help build this franchise into a respectable contender.
The Nola.com headline said it best. “Jrue Holiday was steadying force during Pelicans’ inconsistent season.” Holiday also expressed a desire to play with Davis again, wearing Pelicans jerseys.
"“I’m excited to be here at the end of the day,” Holiday said. “Whatever that title may be. If I’m here, I’ll do the same thing I’ve been doing which trying to win every game and leave it all on the court and play as hard as I can…It’s been six years that I’ve got to play with Anthony, hopefully I see him in a Pelicans jersey next year.”"
It’s been easy to cheer for Jrue Holiday throughout his career. A few more years in New Orleans would likely mean a Holiday jersey number retirement ceremony at the Smoothie King Center. Strictly on fan emotion, Holiday is the most valued player New Orleans has ever had. The Chris Paul Era always had a corporate feel, George Shinn and vetoed trades be damned.
The Jrue Holiday Era ending this summer would cost this team more than fans. All the goodwill and political capital of the David Griffin hiring would be spent if Holiday was traded away.
Any Holiday trade would signal to fans to expect a longer rebuilding process. The remaining Pelicans fans would have more of an “Oh yeah? Prove it” attitude towards the organization’s new direction.
Griffin is smarter than most. He should be wary of outsmarting himself in gauging the fans’ likely reactions to starting from scratch without Holiday to lead the new effort.