Jrue Holiday being shipped to Portland in the blockbuster Damian Lillard trade on Wednesday has NBA fans wondering if the Trail Blazers will turn around and deal Holiday to a true contender.
Right off the bat, the Golden State Warriors are being considered a potential suitor, with Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix noting that the Warriors could send Chris Paul and his expiring contract in exchange for Holiday. It’s a cool idea but nobody knows if the Warriors or Blazers would be interested.
Golden State could quickly become a frontrunner for Jrue Holiday. Warriors have the contract (CP), blue chip prospects (Kuminga/Moody) and the draft capital to get it done.
— Chris Mannix (@SIChrisMannix) September 28, 2023
It’s hypothetical season and the Timberwolves make just as much sense as a potential Holiday suitor as any team in the league. Well, only if the Blazers don’t demand picks in a deal. What could Minnesota give up to land Holiday, who oh by the way is beloved by Minnesota head coach Chris Finch?
Or this one, from part 2:
Finch: Jrue Holiday is the best player I have ever coached without the ball in his hands. (He) cuts, spaces, reads the floor, screens, creates offense for others. https://t.co/T9DCJCP8OP— brittrobson (@brittrobson) September 27, 2023
Any trade for Holiday would almost certainly require Minnesota dealing Mike Conley and his expiring contract. Conley’s $24 million salary helps make the money work, but Minnesota would would have add another mid-sized contract. Something like Naz Reid ($12 million) or Kyle Anderson ($9 million).
Before we even go there, the Timberwolves can’t trade Naz until Dec. 25 because he signed his new contract after free agency opened. Had Minnesota signed him to an extension before he became a free agent there wouldn’t be any trade restrictions.
What about Conley and Anderson for Holiday? That’s an even better deal for the Wolves and it could be enticing for the Blazers since they’d be acquiring two expiring contracts that would help them go bonkers in free agency next summer. Then again, the 2024 NBA free agent class isn’t that great, headlined by James Harden, Pascal Siakam, Klay Thompson and Tobias Harris.
Holiday starting alongside Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert would give Minnesota three high-end defenders to go along with an elite scoring duo in Ant and KAT. But losing Naz and Anderson would deplete the bench and put more pressure on the likes of Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Shake Milton, Troy Brown Jr., Luka Garza and Leonard Miller.
None of this matters if Portland sees itself as a better team with Holiday and Deandre Ayton. Really, Portland’s starting lineup this season is pretty darn good on paper with Holiday, Anfernee Simons, Shaedon Sharpe, Jeremi Grant and Ayton.
