Report: Pelicans open to Holiday trade, hesitant to move Redick
With a 6-21 record and Zion Williamson's return date still unclear, the New Orleans Pelicans appear to have shifted their sights toward a future beyond the 2019-20 season.
Namely, the organization is now open to trading its longest-tenured player, two-time All-Defensive Team guard Jrue Holiday, according to The New York Times' Marc Stein, who added that it would "surely cost a significant amount" to land the veteran.
However, New Orleans is reluctant to part with Holiday's frequent backcourt mate, veteran shooting guard JJ Redick, per Stein. The 35-year-old Redick is under contract through the end of next season at an average annual salary of $13.3 million.
Dealing Holiday would be a reversal of course for the Pelicans, who reportedly had no interest in moving him ahead of last season's trade deadline, even when it became increasingly clear that a divorce with then-franchise player Anthony Davis was inevitable.
Even after Davis was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers and New Orleans drafted Williamson first overall, Pelicans vice president of basketball operations David Griffin publicly declared the 29-year-old Holiday would be the focal point of the organization.
Griffin: This is Jrue Holiday's team.
— Scott Kushner (@ScottDKushner) June 21, 2019
Despite the Pelicans' dismal record and current 12-game losing streak, Holiday has remained productive to begin the campaign. In 36 minutes per game, the two-way combo guard has averaged 19.4 points, 6.8 assists, five rebounds, and 1.8 steals.
Redick has been productive as well, tallying 16.1 points per contest with red-hot scoring efficiency. He's shot 45.7% from distance and boasts an effective field-goal rate of 59.2%, which is in the realm of interior-oriented centers like Steven Adams and Montrezl Harrell.
If he isn't moved by the Feb. 6 deadline, Redick will likely see a notable streak come to an end. In 13 prior NBA seasons split between the Orlando Magic, Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Clippers, and Philadelphia 76ers, the sharpshooter's team has never failed to qualify for the playoffs.