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NBA Free Agency 2017: 5 potential destinations for Jrue Holiday

By Matt Cianfrone

Mar 14, 2017; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward DeMarcus Cousins (0) and forward Anthony Davis (23) and guard Jrue Holiday (11) against the Portland Trail Blazers during the second half of a game at the Smoothie King Center. The Pelicans defeated the Trail Blazers 100-77. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 14, 2017; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward DeMarcus Cousins (0) and forward Anthony Davis (23) and guard Jrue Holiday (11) against the Portland Trail Blazers during the second half of a game at the Smoothie King Center. The Pelicans defeated the Trail Blazers 100-77. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jrue Holiday will be one of the most sought-after free agents this summer. What would be the best fits for him?

Jrue Holiday has been through a lot over the past five seasons. There was a trade from the 76ers to the Pelicans that made him one of the faces of the franchise in New Orleans. Then came injuries that led to plenty of missed time in his first few seasons as a Pelican and a grievance to be filed against Philadelphia for not disclosing his injury history. Then there was a coaching change that ended up with Alvin Gentry in charge of the Pelicans. Finally, and most importantly, there was the serious illness that Holiday’s wife battled last season.

But when Holiday has been on the court he has been his normal reliable self. Offensively he will give any team a boost with above-average shooting and the ability to play both on and off the ball. Defensively his size and length give him the ability to defend either guard position and do it well. Combined it makes Holiday one of the better players available on the free agent market this summer. So where could he end up? Let’s take a look at some options.

5. New Orleans Pelicans

For a while this felt like the only real possibility. After all, New Orleans traded two first round draft picks for Holiday and letting him walk after only one playoff appearance would make that tough to swallow. But as time goes on and more and more news comes out of New Orleans it feels more likely than it ever did that Holiday could leave.

The benefits to staying in New Orleans are pretty clear.

It starts with the money. If New Orleans is willing to give Holiday a maximum contract he will make more money by staying a Pelican than he can by going anywhere else. For a player with a history of leg injuries that security could mean a lot to him.

Of course there are reasons besides cash. Holiday has already developed an impressive chemistry with Anthony Davis and the Pelicans should do all they can to keep that going. New Orleans is fairly locked into the roster they currently have, meaning Holiday walking could be a disaster in their plans to make DeMarcus Cousins and Anthony Davis happy long term. Holiday’s defense and shooting also gives the Pelicans great versatility in building around their three core pieces which they desperately will need based on current roster construction.

Despite all of this there are questions. Based on the way Alvin Gentry has handled him, it is unclear how the Pelicans brass feels about Holiday. After acquiring Cousins the Pelicans tended to use Holiday as a shooting guard besides Tim Frazier. If he fancies himself a “pure point guard” Holiday may decide that he is better off ending up somewhere else where he will be the player in charge of offenses full time. And there will be plenty of those opportunities available.

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