Dallas Mavericks: Plan B free agents with Giannis Antetokounmpo signed
By Dalton Sell
2021 free agent target No. 2 – Jrue Holiday
The Dallas Mavericks missed out on one member of the Milwaukee Bucks, but they should have their eyes on another in Jrue Holiday.
Holiday, 30, will play out the season with Milwaukee but can enter free agency if he opts-out of his $26.3 million player option for 2021-22. If the Bucks and Holiday cannot come to terms on an extension before then, the Mavericks should have him high on their free agency wishlist.
He has been deemed the best guard defender in the association by many, and he has two All-Defensive honors to showcase for it. That type of defensive prowess would be a significant addition to Dallas’ subpar efforts on that end of the floor. In particular, Luka Doncic is often criticized for his defensive shortcomings, and giving him a specialist such as Jrue Holiday to alleviate pressure off of him on that side of the ball would be a perfect pairing.
Holiday’s ability to guard some of the league’s premier talent is desirable on its own, but he can also make a substantial impact on the other end. Playmaking, scoring, floor spacing, Holiday does it all offensively, having averaged 19.1 points on a .445/.353/.709 slash line and 6.7 assists per game last season.
With everything that he brings to the table, Holiday would be an ideal third star to complement Doncic and Porzingis, bringing a hardened sense of veteran leadership along with his two-way play. Dallas will have to wait and see what comes of his contract situation, which they should be monitoring.