Jrue Holiday is the New Orleans Pelicans’ most valuable trade piece.
Jrue Holiday
Unlike most of the guys on this list, Holiday has already proven himself to be an All-Star and All-Defense level player in the NBA.
Holiday is still just 30-years-old, coming off a good season, and would be a great third piece on a lot of contending teams.
Holiday is making $27 million, but the contract only goes through 2021-22, so any team that trades for him will get two seasons of Holiday before he goes into steep decline.
This combination of salary, years and talent could net the Pelicans a haul, especially if there is a team out there that is desperate for another piece. Someone like the Warriors, Nets or Pacers could be a good home for Holiday and all have the type of assets the Pels would theoretically covet.
The latest rumor is that the Warriors will go hard after Holiday, offering up some package built around Wiggins and the #2 pick.
If the Pelicans decided to move Holiday, they would have several suitors and could walk away with a package of young players and picks that is even better than the one Memphis used to rebuild their roster with the Mike Conley trade.
The New Orleans Pelicans do not have to make a trade and should be in no hurry to do so unless the right one is out there, but they definitely have pieces to move.
They could just run it back but with Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram the Pels have a chance to win now, which might encourage them to make a trade to balance the roster.