Atlanta Hawks emerge as a potential trade suitor for Jrue Holiday

The Atlanta Hawks are reportedly eyeing a trade for Jrue Holiday.

With the 2020 NBA Draft only a week away and the league set to lift trade restrictions in the next few days, teams are already starting to kick around a few possible deals.

The Phoenix Suns have reportedly discussed a Chris Paul trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder, and now, it appears trade talks revolving around New Orleans Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday are starting to heat up.

According to The New York Times‘ Marc Stein, the Atlanta Hawks have emerged as a potential trade destination for the 30-year-old guard. Stein reports the Hawks’ No. 6 pick in the upcoming draft would be involved in multi-team scenarios.

What would a Hawks-Pelicans trade look like for Jrue Holiday?

Holiday, who is set to make $26.2 million next season and has a $27.1 million player option for 2021-22, is the ideal sort of backcourt complement the Hawks need. Trae Young has already proven himself to be a game-bending offensive force as a scorer, shooter and passer, but he’s quite possibly the worst defender at his position in the league.

Having someone like Holiday who could lock down opposing guards on the perimeter and also make his life easier on offense would go a long way to nudging Atlanta back into the Eastern Conference playoff picture after a 20-47 season. As a career 35.4 percent 3-point shooter, Holiday would give Young some extra space for driving lanes, and his 6.4 assists per game would go a long way in freeing up Young to play off the ball more and utilize his floor-spacing and shooting ability.

Young has only been in the league for two seasons now, but his frustrations with the Hawks’ slow-going rebuild were apparent last year. Atlanta pushing for the playoffs in a weaker conference makes sense, especially since Holiday is still only 30 and can help instill winning ways on a young roster. He averaged 19.1 points, 6.7 assists and 4.8 rebounds per game last season, and even in an underwhelming year for New Orleans, Holiday clearly has plenty left in the tank.

The Pelicans have been stewing over a Jrue Holiday trade for awhile now and appear ready to focus solely on their rebuild around Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram and the rest of their youngsters — an interesting choice, given how close they were to seizing a playoff spot and how they just hired Stan Van Gundy, but an inevitability nevertheless, given Holiday’s lack of a long-term role and contract situation. Cashing in on his value now is the smart move.

Draft capital and young players appears to be the name of the game for David Griffin and the Pelicans, so the Hawks’ sixth overall pick is a good start. Given that Clint Capela’s $16 million salary is the highest on Atlanta’s roster and that the Hawks won’t be interested in trading their new center anyway, working out a deal that would appease both sides is almost a nonstarter. Looping in a third team — perhaps the Minnesota Timberwolves, who are looking to add a second lottery pick? — might be the only way to ensure New Orleans gets fair compensation for one of the league’s most coveted two-way guards.

However, navigating three-team deals can be difficult, and Jarrett Culver and the No. 17 pick wouldn’t be enough for New Orleans if that No. 6 pick went to Minnesota. It’s also worth noting that Chris Kirschner of The Athletic refuted Stein’s report, citing multiple sources who have told him that Atlanta is not a trade destination for Holiday.