The New Orleans Pelicans’ Jrue Holiday is involved in trade rumors to the Denver Nuggets.
The New Orleans Pelicans have been involved in just about every trade rumor out there and most of them include Jrue Holiday.
The 30-year-old former All-Defensive guard would be a nice addition to most contenders and since he’d get the most back in a trade, it makes sense that the rumor mill is working overtime.
Every team from the Clippers to the Nets, Pacers and even the Lakers has been involved in some sort of Jrue Holiday rumor, but the one that keeps coming up most often is a trade with the Denver Nuggets.
Former coach and current analyst George Karl thew gasoline on that fire with a recent tweet that said Denver covets Jrue Holiday more than any of the other teams previously mentioned:
There is talk of Jrue Holiday landing with the Clippers, Pacers and other contenders. But I told @Adam_Mares recently the Nuggets want this guy next to Jamal Murray!
— George Karl (@CoachKarl22) October 2, 2020
Even if they need to be bold and throw a MPJ into a trade to make it happen!! pic.twitter.com/eRMumC3yml
Karl not only added more weight to the rumor but mentioned Michael Porter Jr. as a potential asset in the trade, something Denver fans have been trying to avoid.
Porter Jr. found a new level in the playoffs and flashed some big potential in the process. He was one of the best young players in the bubble and more proof that the Denver Nuggets know what they are doing when it comes to the draft.
Let’s take a look at a potential trade involving Porter Jr. to see if the New Orleans Pelicans might have some interest.
New Orleans Pelicans trade rumor with Denver Nuggets
Trading Jrue Holiday for MPJ
If the New Orleans Pelicans end up moving Jrue Holiday it won’t be because they don’t like him as a player.
Holiday has done everything the Pels have asked, has been a model citizen and is beloved by the fanbase, so they are not just going to give him away.
Trading Holiday is a way to better balance a roster that is too guard-heavy, clear up some future cap space and ensure that they can keep the Big 3 of Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball for the long-term.
Here is a trade that would balance the Pels’ roster, give them more assets to build around and clear cap space for a future move:
This is an interesting trade for both teams and one that would potentially solve a lot of problems. It would be a risk for either team to be sure, but there might be some mutual interest, depending on how both teams feel about the future of Michael Porter Jr. and Bol Bol.
Should the New Orleans Pelicans take a risk on potential over a known contributor?
Would the Nuggets sacrifice some of their depth to get a better player?
New Orleans Pelicans: Trading Jrue Holiday to the Denver Nuggets
Why the Nuggets would do it
The Denver Nuggets were so close to the NBA Finals that they could practically taste the gold of the Larry O’ Brien trophy.
They are a talented team with two great players and a lot of depth, but they aren’t really built to win a title, at least not yet.
While the Nuggets may have a ton of depth, they didn’t have a third option behind Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray.
Holiday is a gifted offensive player who can not only score himself but can be the playmaker if Murray was on the bench or wanted to play more off the ball.
Holiday is also an elite defender who could defend the other team’s best perimeter guy, allowing Murray to focus more on his offense.
He and Murray would form an impressive backcourt on both ends of the floor and Holiday could carry the offense for stretches when Murray is on the bench.
The Nuggets would be sacrificing depth for quality, yes, but teams shorten their rotations in the playoffs anyway, so having 12 guys who can play doesn’t really matter when things tighten up.
Bol Bol couldn’t even get on the floor in the playoffs and MPJ was inconsistent, so they’d be trading two unknowns for a guy who is a proven All-Star and All-Defensive caliber player.
If the Nuggets want to win a title, they’ll need a third piece and Holiday fits well with what they have. If they wanted to push their assets into the middle of the table, this would be one way to do it.
New Orleans Pelicans: Trading with the Denver Nuggets for Michael Porter Jr.
Why the Pelicans would do it
Shakespeare said in Hamlet:
“The undiscovered country from whose bourn
No traveler returns, puzzles the will
And makes us rather bear those ills we have
Than fly to others that we know not of…”
In other words, do the Pels stick with what they know or take risks on potential? MPJ certainly showed some in the playoffs and he fits the profile of what the Pelians need, a combo forward who can defend multiple spots, make plays and shoot the 3-pointer.
Same with Bol Bol, a potential playmaking five to put next to Zion Williamson who is definitely intriguing when it comes to fit and possibility.
Gary Harris has to be included to make the salaries work, but he is not a bad player himself. He can make plays, shoot a little and defend his position. He’d be a poor man’s Jrue Holiday really, not great but a guy who can be part of a playoff rotation.
This would be a risky trade for the Pelicans, but one they would have to consider, as it would potentially give them the backup center they need, a combo forward with big potential and a shooting guard to replace Holiday.
This would make the Pelicans bigger, give them a more balanced roster and could give them a lot of lineup versatility. Imagine a lineup of Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram. Porter Jr., Zion and Bol Bol? They would be long, versatile and very tough to match up with, not to mention super fun to watch.
If the rumors are true and the Nuggets are willing to include MPJ in a trade for Jrue Holiday, the Pelicans definitely have to listen.