Atlanta Hawks Offseason Trade Rumors: Love, Like or Loathe

2 of 4

Mar 8, 2020; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; New Orleans Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday (11) controls the ball against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the first quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports /

Atlanta Hawks have emerged as a potential trade destination for Jrue Holiday

The Rumor:

"“The Hawks have emerged as a potential trade destination for New Orleans’ Jrue Holiday in multi-team trade scenarios that would involve Atlanta’s No. 6 pick in next week’s draft, league sources say” – Marc Stein"

Love, like or loathe:

Like, but closer to loathe than love.

Look, I get it. Holiday has been a top backcourt defender for years and what do the Atlanta Hawks need most? Backcourt defense.

Picking up Holiday makes total sense on paper, but honestly, I hope it stays on paper.

The Hawks have emerged as a potential trade destination for New Orleans' Jrue Holiday in multi-team trade scenarios that would involve Atlanta's No. 6 pick in next week's draft, league sources say
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) November 11, 2020

In 2019-20, the one-time All-Star saw decrases in nearly every statistical category and while that could be due to the Pelicans adding more weapons, you can’t deny that he’s on a downward slope.

I don’t see how that slope magically picks back up in Atlanta. Holiday is 30 years old and has played over 23,000 minutes in the NBA thus far.

Did I mention his contract? He’s set to make $25 million in 2020-21 and has a player option for a touch more than that the season after. If he doesn’t work out, the Hawks would be responsible for over $50 million over two years, taking their best asset (cap space) away.

It likely wouldn’t be a disastrous move, especially if they can get a pick back in return. New Orleans has the 13th pick and three second-rounders and owns the Lakers’ 2021 and 2023 first-rounders.

There are better moves to be made. Like this one: