3 possible landing sites for Jrue Holiday

Jrue Holiday’s stay at the Big Easy could be nearing its end.

The New Orleans Pelicans are reportedly buying the All-Star Guard and have received interest from several competitors.

Since the free agent class has no star power this offseason, teams can look for upgrades in the trading market.

Here are three teams that could take a run at Holiday:

Denver nuggets

Suggested trade

Denver is hoping to build on last season’s run to the Western Conference finals, but it’s clear the club is at least some way off the legitimate challenge for an NBA title. With Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray locked out on a long-term basis, the Nuggets should maximize their window.

While Michael Porter may very well become the third star Denver needs, that shouldn’t stop the team from pursuing a big goal. Holiday would give the Nuggets’ heavy offense another legitimate scorer. He can play the ball next to Murray and take over the playing duties when he’s seated.

Starting guard Gary Harris struggled to repeat his offensive form from 2017 to 18, although he continues to play at a high level on the defensive. The Michigan state product would be a logical destination for Pelicans’ new head coach Stan Van Gundy, who has taken a defense-oriented approach in the past.

Striker Bol Bol crashed the 2019 draft due to injury concerns. However, during the Seeding Games in Orlando, he showed the unique skills that earned him a top 10 placement in college. He could be the piece that ultimately led New Orleans to make a deal.

Brooklyn networks

Suggested trade

Like the Nuggets, Brooklyn wants to add another significant piece, and Holiday could fit in perfectly alongside ball-dominant Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. The 11 year old veteran is arguably most effective when giving up primary gaming tasks.

Vacation thrives when he’s given the freedom to get off the ball, and it is no accident that his three best seasons came when he’s played two courts. His addition to the back of the nets would also help mitigate Irving’s defensive shortcomings.

Most importantly, Holiday is unlikely to shake the locker room balance as his peers voted him the 2019-20 Twyman Stokes Teammate. Durant and Irving have been the focus of some internal issues on their previous stops, and that’s the last thing Brooklyn needs.

As for the return of the pelicans, Caris LeVert is another building block and will be banned until 2022-23. The striker averaged a career high of 18.7 points last season and performed admirably in the bubble of a short-handed Nets squad. In the meantime, Jarrett Allen is a young center with starting caliber that is already a tried and tested rim protector and can speak out in New Orleans’ swift attack.

intense heat

Suggested trade

Miami was way closer to a championship than many thought as it headed into the 2019-20 season. The heat has pushed the Los Angeles Lakers to six games in the NBA finals and could get a boost if they think Holiday is the guy to push them over the top.

The 30-year-old could be an option if Goran Dragic isn’t signed to the free agency again. Holiday would take on the role of the starting point guardian in such a scenario, but would not be burdened with primary relief tasks as Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo also serve as threats to the game.

Holiday’s ability to guard multiple positions would give Miami another switchable defender. Tyler Herro’s stellar rookie campaign may keep him off the table, but New Orleans could still get some young talent out of the heat.

Duncan Robinson became an elite threat to catch and shooting just two years after his NBA career and would give Zion Williamson some ground clearance. Center Kelly Olynyk is another outside threat but would have to exercise his $ 12.2 million player option to be included in a deal.

Eventually, Kendrick Nunn would offer New Orleans a gate guard alongside Lonzo Ball. Nunn lost his spot in the rotation when he struggled during the restart, but enjoyed a strong first half and finished second in the Rookie of the Year poll.