One of the bigger names and better unrestricted free agents on the market this summer is 27-year-old point guard and oft-injured Jrue Holiday.
Holiday played 67 games for the Pelicans last year and averaged 15.4 points, 7.3 assists and 3.9 rebounds per game on 45% shooting from the field and 35% shooting from beyond the arc.
According to Adrian Wojnarowski, Holiday is giving the Pelicans the first-crack at re-signing him in free agency on midnight, July 1.
“New Orleans guard Jrue Holiday will meet with Pelicans officials at the 12:01 a.m. ET start of free agency on Saturday, league sources told The Vertical.
If Holiday, one of the market’s top unrestricted guards and the Pelicans’ primary summer priority, is unable to reach an agreement on a deal to remain with New Orleans, he intends to take meetings elsewhere in the first 48 hours of free agency, league sources said”
Jrue Holiday should definitely draw some interest from some teams across the league including Dallas even though they took Dennis Smith with the No.9 pick of the draft. If Utah loses Gordon Hayward or Toronto loses Kyle Lowry, either team could instantly be big players for Holiday’s services as the youngest proven point guard on the market.
There is a chance (a small one) that the Clippers decide to bring back the hometown player to be their new point guard of the future with Chris Paul now in Houston.
Jrue Holiday is a good player and New Orleans is under the gun to re-sign him with DeMarcus Cousins looming free agency in 2018 and the always looming possibility of a frustrated Anthony Davis requesting a trade. General Manger Dell Demps is a lame duck with one year left on his contract as well and sorely needs the team to improve in 2017-18.
Holiday’s max could be five years and $144 million, which seems crazy for New Orleans to pay for a mid-level starter with injury issues, but it could be a reality if they panic and want to ensure that Holiday re-signs with them before meeting with other teams.
Unless the Jazz lose Hayward or the Raptors lose Lowry, there shouldn’t be a big-time competitor that would be willing to pursue Holiday in the first free days and offer him anywhere near a max contract, so it may be smart for the Pelicans to offer what they are comfortable with and let the chips fall a little bit before a panicked max offer which is clearly what Holiday and his agent want.
What’s worse, losing your starting point guard when you are trying to retain your two big stars or paying an injury-riddled middle of the road point guard $28 million per season into his 30s?
