The New Orleans Pelicans reportedly have no interest in trading point guard Jrue Holiday this summer, according to Scott Kushner of The Advocate.
The Pelicans are widely expected to trade superstar big man Anthony Davis, who requested a trade near the February trade deadline. Some believe New Orleans should trade Holiday as well and embark on a full rebuild.
By all accounts, the Pelicans have NO interest in trading Jrue Holiday. But after seeing what Portland’s guards are doing this postaseason….
Has Holiday’s trade value ever been higher than it is right now?
— Scott Kushner (@ScottDKushner) April 24, 2019
In 67 games this season, Holiday averaged 21.2 points, 5.0 rebounds and 7.7 assists per game for the Pelicans, who missed the playoffs. The 28-year-old, who is one of the best two-way players in the league, shot 47.2 percent from the field, 32.5 percent from beyond the arc and 76.8 percent from the free-throw line.
Holiday signed a five-year, $131.8 million contract with New Orleans back in the summer of 2017. He has three years left on his contract with the Pelicans. Holiday will make $26,131,111 next season, $25,396,111 in 2020-21 and has a player option worth $26,285,000 for the 2021-22 season.
As Kushner notes, Holiday's trade value around the league could be at its highest right now. Holiday shut down Portland Trail Blazers star point guard Damian Lillard in the 2018 postseason. The Pelicans swept the Blazers in the first round last season and Lillard only averaged 18.5 points versus the Pelicans while shooting 35.2 percent overall and 30.0 percent from the 3-point line.
Lillard, of course, just dominated the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round. It will be an interesting summer for the Pelicans, who hired David Griffin last week.
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