There's no doubt that, as the New Orleans Pelicans enter the offseason, the biggest challenge the Joe Dumars and Troy Weaver-led front office will face is what to do with Jordan Poole. New Orleans acquired JP last offseason in a swap centered around CJ McCollum, and that move became an instant regret. Poole struggled immensely through his first and likely only season with the Pelicans, and considering he has a $34+ million salary heading into next season, trading him looks like a massive obstacle.
That was until a recent report from Jake Fischer that suggested the Portland Trail Blazers could emerge as a serious suitor for Giannis Antetokounmpo this summer. Why that's important for New Orleans is that they own the rights to the Bucks' first-round pick next season. Portland already has control of the Bucks' first-round picks in 2028 and 2030, so if they were to acquire Milwaukee's 2027 first, no team would be able to match the value they could offer.
Fischer also suggested Jrue Holiday's future with Portland is uncertain, saying the Blazers "will field plenty of external trade interest in Holiday." A swap centered around the Bucks pick and Poole for Holiday should be 100 percent something the Pelicans should explore.
Holiday is a perfect win-now target
If Milwaukee enters a rebuild, its pick next year will likely be in the top five of the 2027 NBA Draft. Despite next year's draft class being viewed as one of the weaker groups in recent memory, trading a potential top-five pick to offload a contract and get a soon-to-be 36-year-old back would be a bad process. Given the Blazers' overwhelming amount of young talent and treasure chest of draft picks, New Orleans would likely require some type of sweetener to get a deal done.
Swapping out Poole for Holiday would be a massive boost for the Pelicans on both ends.
Sure, his days as an elite two-way talent are mostly behind him, but he still gives New Orleans a top-tier defender at the point of attack and an elite connective piece offensively. At this point in his career, Holiday is the perfect role player. This season, he averaged 16.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, 6.1 assists, and 1.0 steals per game, while shooting 37.8 percent from three. On top of this, Holiday, among players to play 50 or more games for Portland last season, was first on the team in net rating.
Adding Holiday also would create an interesting Herb Jones dynamic. In one world, trading for Holiday could make parting with Jones to address another team's need easier—in the other, it would give the Pelicans two high-level stoppers.
Reacquiring Holiday in a trade construction like the one I proposed would also be a full-circle moment for him and the Pelicans. That Bucks' 2027 first is the only remaining piece New Orleans has from the deal that sent Holiday to Milwaukee back in the 2020 offseason.
While this trade idea isn't perfect, the concept is definitely something Joe Dumars and Troy Weaver should entertain. If the Pelicans are serious about winning next season, adding Holiday would be a clear win-now pivot. Holiday would immediately raise the team’s floor with his defense, leadership, and connective play, and help them escape their Jordan Poole dilemma.
Add us as a preferred source on Google