The Denver Nuggets are among the teams with trade interest in New Orleans Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday, according to Vincent Goodwill of Yahoo Sports.
One team executive told Goodwill that a sign-and-trade involving Nuggets forward Jerami Grant is one scenario that could deliver Holiday to Denver. Grant is expected to opt out of his contract this offseason, though early reports suggest he and the Nuggets have a mutual interest in a reunion.
“So much of what Denver or any team can do depends on what the cap looks like, especially with the Nuggets having $107 million committed for next season, highlighted by max deals to stars Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray,” Goodwill wrote.
Meanwhile, the Brooklyn Nets are another team said to be interested, with Goodwill reporting as many as 10 opposing teams have Holiday on the radar.
“Once (Kevin) Durant and (Kyrie) Irving take the court, the Nets could have a potent offense but problematic defense,” Brian Lewis of the New York Post wrote. “They knew that even before hiring Steve Nash. The Post has detailed their interest in Holiday, and now ESPN has reported it dates since February’s trade deadline, when they held discussions with the Pelicans.”
The Pelicans just hired Stan Van Gundy as coach and it’s too soon to say what their plans are moving forward.
Holiday, 30, was a key member of a Pelicans alongside younger and more-celebrated youngsters such as Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram.
Holiday averaged 19.1 points and 6.7 assists last season, shooting shooting 46 percent from the field and 35 percent on 3-pointers. He is widely considered one of the NBA’s best defenders, locking up everyone from opposing point guards to power forwards.
The NBA moratorium on trades is expected to be lifted within the next several weeks, perhaps before the Nov. 18 draft.
