New Orleans Pelicans: 3-team Jrue Holiday trade with Celtics and Pacers

New Orleans Pelicans: Trading Jrue Holiday for Kemba Walker would be risky

Why the Pelicans would do it

I’m not so sure they would.

Kemba Walker is a slightly better scorer than Jrue Holiday but Holiday is better at just about everything else and is slightly younger.

Walker does do a couple of things better than Holiday, such as shooting 3-pointers and free throws, which would be a huge benefit to the Pels when trying to close out games.

The Pelicans were one of the worst teams in the NBA during clutch time, partly because both of their primary ball handlers stink at shooting free throws.

But Walker is making considerably more money than Holiday and has an extra year on his contract as well. Do the Pelicans really want to be paying Walker $37.6 million in 2022-23 when he is 33-years-old? It’s a risk, especially with his injury history.

Walker is also not a great fit with Lonzo Ball, though like Holiday, Walker could play more off the ball and become more of a spot-up scoring option.

The only reason the Pelicans would entertain this is that they could potentially move up in the draft and get an impact young player, as well as keep their own 13th pick to add another.

Here’s what their rotation could look like with those picks. Plug in any two players you like with #7 and #13.

PG: Lonzo Ball

SG: Kemba Walker/ J.J. Redick

SF: Brandon Ingram/ Josh Hart/ Saddiq Bey

PF: Zion Williamson/ Nicolo Melli

C: Onyeka Okongwu/ Jaxson Hayes

The Pels could add any combination of draft picks out of the Aaron Nesmith, Killian Hayes, Jalen Smith, Devin Vassell group as well, so they’d have a ton of options, including making additional trades.

Walker’s contract is worrisome but it ends the same year a Zion Williamson’s current deal, so it wouldn’t hamper his future extension.

The Pelicans could potentially get a lot better and a lot younger just by taking on Kemba Walker’s deal, which isn’t terrible considering he is still a very productive player.

It is definitely something for the New Orleans Pelicans to consider if they want to have a chance to win now while adding to their young core.