After reports have come out this week that the New Orleans Pelicans are making All-Star guard Jrue Holiday available in trade talks, media and fans alike took the story and ran.
However, according to Pelicans executive vice president of basketball operations David Griffin, the team is not planning on trading Holiday.
Griffin said he is “clearly not” trying to trade Jrue Holiday.
— Scott Kushner (@ScottDKushner) December 18, 2019
As Griffin noted, “nothing factual has taken place at all” and “nothing has changed” in terms of the team's approach to the season, per Scott Kushner of The New Orleans Advocate.
Despite trading franchise superstar Anthony Davis to the Los Angeles Lakers in the summer, many expected the Pelicans to possibly compete for a playoff spot in the Western Conference coming into the 2019-20 season. A core of No. 1 overall pick Zion Williamson, Holiday, Brandon Ingram, JJ Reddick and Lonzo Ball had fans excited.
Unfortunately, things have not gone well for New Orleans to start the season. Williamson has yet to play this year due to injury. Moreover, despite a breakout year from Ingram, the team is showing its inexperience and has underperformed. Sitting at 6-22 and 14th place in the conference, a playoff berth is looking increasingly unlikely.
In his seventh year for the Pelicans, Holiday is averaging 19.4 points, 6.8 assists and 5.0 rebounds in 33.8 minutes per game.
Multiple teams have been linked the two-time NBA All-Defensive Team honoree, including the Dallas Mavericks, Phoenix Suns and Chicago Bulls. If he were to be traded, New Orleans would reportedly expect quite a bit in return for the talents of the 29-year-old star.
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