New Orleans Pelicans: 3 reasons to keep Jrue Holiday
By Eliot Clough
Jrue Holiday has been among the players in trade rumors throughout the NBA in the last month. The New Orleans Pelicans should do their best to keep him.
Any New Orleans Pelicans fan that has seen the speculation in regards to trading Jrue Holiday probably didn’t enjoy it. Disregard this year, and fans would detest the idea.
Although Holiday hasn’t necessarily found his niche with the new, young core in New Orleans, the UCLA product has had plenty of success in the league. It’s safe to say that, in the recent past, Holiday was one of just two players that could score in bunches on any given night for the Pels (the other being Anthony Davis).
Having a guy who can put up 30 and 10 at any point and is averaging nearly 20 points and 6.4 assists per game on your roster is not something to throw around in trade rumors willy nilly.
Said trade rumors began in early December and haven’t let up since. Holiday, who is reportedly happy in New Orleans according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, still has much to provide the youthful squad that is the Pelicans. So far this season, the 10-year vet has played in 40 games, is averaging 4.8 rebounds, is second in scoring and leads the Pels in minutes per game with 35.3.
Other than having trouble fitting into a role with the unit as a whole, what valid reason would there be to trade Holiday? No shenanigans off the court, no drama in the locker room. The veteran isn’t an outspoken guy by any means. Especially with the media. I am genuinely unsure of the last time I saw or heard a soundbite from Jrue Holiday.
There are a plethora of reasons this trade doesn’t make sense — here’s three.