Overnight, we had another blockbuster NBA trade after the Chris Paul deal: the New Orleans Pelicans will reportedly send star guard Jrue Holiday to the Milwaukee Bucks.
It seemed like the Pels’ intentions all along were to deal the veteran, who has a year left on his deal plus a player option for 2021-22. It makes sense to trade him now with New Orleans building around Zion Williamson, and the compensation they got back will absolutely help with that.
As for the Bucks? It’s all about keeping Giannis Antetokounmpo happy. And they may have done just that with this trade and another reported deal to get Bogdan Bogdanovic.
Let’s break this trade down with some grades.
The trade
Bucks acquire Jrue Holiday.
Pelicans acquire Eric Bledsoe, George Hill, three future first-round picks and the rights to swap two draft picks.
Bucks grade
Bledsoe was, in his Bucks tenure, never quite the same that he was in his time with Suns. He would score and dish and grab a steal or two … and then in the playoffs, he’d disappear. It was clearly time for the Bucks to move on (they were also paying him through 2022-23), and they found a way to do so perfectly.
They’ll miss George Hill’s leadership and shooting off the bench — he hit 46 percent from deep last season, and the gamble here is on all those picks and swaps. If the Greek Freak doesn’t sign a long-term deal to stay with the franchise, the Bucks will have damaged themselves for a while down the road. In a vacuum it’s kind of a big price for a player who isn’t superstar, and especially one who will probably opt out after next year and will earn a raise.
However! They get Holiday, who is a clear upgrade from Bledsoe, and that’s really what counts here. If I’m Antetokounmpo, I can see the front office wants me to stay, and I’m basing some of this grade on the idea that he’ll be convinced to stick around.
GRADE: B
Pelicans grade
Remember what I said above about the Bucks kind of overpaying for Holiday? Funny enough, on the Pels’ end, I wish they had gotten a young prospect back instead of taking on Bledsoe’s salary (although maybe they’ll turn around and deal him to a team that could use him? The Pelicans aren’t putting someone in front of the still-developing Lonzo Ball).
Nonetheless, the return is what you’d want if you’re building for the future. First-round picks are always a good idea. And in this environment, with some other teams vying for Holiday’s services, maybe this was actually the best deal out there.
GRADE: B+
