Potentially available for a hefty price, Jrue Holiday could draw significant returns if the New Orleans Pelicans decide to make a move at the NBA deadline.
We’re entering the final 36 hours of the trade deadline and the New Orleans Pelicans have yet to make any moves but as teams around the league bolster their rosters for a title run, Jrue Holiday remains an almost constant interest around the league.
Standing 20-31 and 4.5 games out of the eighth seed in the West currently being chased by a bevy of conference foes, the New Orleans Pelicans are in a complicated bind at the trade deadline.
While Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations David Griffin and General Manager Trajan Langdon are certain to field calls, it would be reasonable for the team to hold form considering the chemistry.
New Orleans continues to be content with Jrue Holiday remaining on roster through Thursday’s NBA Trade Deadline, league sources tell ESPN. The kind of overwhelming offer it would take to pry Holiday hasn’t surfaced in the marketplace.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 5, 2020
There is some logic to the Pelicans standing pat at this year’s deadline. After all of last year’s transaction-related “dumpster fire” with Anthony Davis, the team could be reasonably shy in shuffling the pieces around too much before their core really gets some good run time.
As the heat and traction surrounding the trade deadline continue to pick up, the Pelicans are probably going to be fielding a lot of calls surrounding some of the veteran talents on their team, despite an unlikelihood that any of them will be traded.
Certainly, the organization could be swayed by player talent or draft assets that have long term favorability, especially a young player talent that compliments their core.
In their last two games before the NBA Trade Deadline, the New Orleans Pelicans took back-to-back losses for the second time since Zion Williamson returned to the floor. In both games, Jrue Holiday mightly struggled, looking particularly at a loss on offense.
Despite his struggles during spots this season and especially over the last few games, Holiday is a great leader with tireless work ethic.
Jrue is going through shooting drills after the game. pic.twitter.com/RAz4giwiYQ
— Andrew Smith (@DruProductions) February 5, 2020
According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, Holiday has made it clear to the front office that his preference is to stay in New Orleans to see the core continue their development.
However, if the New Orleans Pelicans can get a really good young player in a deal, it’s something they’d have to strongly consider.
While Holiday is a foundational member of what the Pelicans have been over the past decade, he’s closer to the finish line on his career than the players this team will carry into next season.