The New Orleans Pelicans are shopping guard Jrue Holiday, and the Golden State Warriors should be one of the contenders eyeing the former All-Star.
The Golden State Warriors should feel confident in their roster. However, they should also know that they need just a bit more talent to truly contend with reigning champions, the Los Angeles Lakers.
With a massive trade exception and the mid-level exception at their disposal, the Warriors have options.
They’ll also have the No. 2 overall pick and a high-value 2021 first-round pick as well. It’s tough to tell what they’re open to trade, but if a special offer comes their way, it doesn’t seem likely they wouldn’t at least hear it out.
With numerous stars on the trade table, it’s now confirmed that the Pelicans are going to be listening to offers for former All-Star guard Jrue Holiday who is coming off a season in which he averaged 19.1 points per game.
That report was first brought to life by The Athletic and Stadium’s Shams Charania.
The New Orleans Pelicans are openly discussing star Jrue Holiday in trade talks and several contending teams are pursuing, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 4, 2020
The Warriors, depending on his case, need to be targeting Holiday. He’d slide in with Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson and be a perfect fit. Holiday is a solid three-point shooter and one of the best defensive guards in the league.
A two-three-four of Holiday-Thompson-Green would be among the best three-man defensive trios in the NBA. They’d absolutely be able to cover up any rim-protecting woes the team has. Curry would also be giving the easiest defensive assignment, easing his burden.
For Holiday, he’s averaged at least 1.4 steals per game for the last decade. In that time, he’s improved his shooting and playmaking as well.
He was clearly one of the leaders for the Pelicans roster last season, and given his age and contract, it’s about time they let him cling onto an actual contender, not an up-and-coming roster that may still be a few years out.
However, his contract would force the Warriors to trade Wiggins or Green in any deal. The only trade that really makes sense is Wiggins and the No. 2 overall pick for Holiday at the No. 13 pick or just Holiday straight up.
Holiday is a player that would be the quintessential fit for Golden State, but if the Pelicans are looking for multiple first-round picks, they might as well just keep him for the foreseeable future.