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Jrue Holiday is the best-value trade target for Golden State Warriors

By Nathan Beighle

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 06: Jrue Holiday #11 of the New Orleans Pelicans reacts during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Sacramento Kings at HP Field House at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 6, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ashley Landis-Pool/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 06: Jrue Holiday #11 of the New Orleans Pelicans reacts during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Sacramento Kings at HP Field House at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 6, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ashley Landis-Pool/Getty Images) /
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The Pelicans may need to free up some cap space for their young stars, and they could do that by trading Jrue Holiday, preferably to the Golden State Warriors.

Jrue Holiday isn’t necessarily going to be traded, but the New Orleans Pelicans, in the coming years, will need to pay Lonzo Ball and Josh Hart. This offseason, they’ll need to pay Derrick Favors and Brandon Ingram. Their contracts could present an opening for the Golden State Warriors.

With a plethora of assets, the Warriors could swoop in and make an enticing offer. Holiday is certainly worth quite a bit as he’s one of the NBA’s best defenders although disrespectfully left off the 2020 All-Defensive teams.

Holiday is set to be paid $26.1 million this past season and the same next season.

He’ll have a player option the following season set to be just over $27 million. He’ll, in all likelihood, use that option, so with any team Holiday could be traded to, they’ll almost undoubtedly lock him up for two seasons.

This past season was one of Holiday’s best in the NBA, and at 30, he could be even better in 2021. Holiday combined with Ingram and Williamson to be the leaders of the Pelicans, a team that barely missed out on the playoffs.

Holiday averaged 19.1 points per game, the second-most of his career. He also notched 4.8 rebounds and 6.7 assists, another figure that was the second-best of his illustrious career.

While neither of the three represents a career-high, they all showcase just how well-rounded of a player Holiday has become. What makes him even more intriguing to Golden State is that he averaged 2.0 made threes per game. He shot 35.3% from downtown this season.

As noted, Holiday isn’t on the block right now, but with the second-overall pick in the coming draft, the Golden State Warriors will have the assets to make a strong pull for the former All-Star guard.

dark. Next. Top 30 Golden State Warriors players in franchise history

He’s an under-the-radar trade target, but that be exactly what the Golden State Warriors need in order to pull of a blockbuster trade. His diverse skill set could be the key to taking their roster to the next level.

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