The New Orleans Pelicans figured to be one of the busiest teams at the trade deadline, but for a variety of different reasons they haven't been. Eric Gordon and Tyreke Evans both got hurt which has made it nearly impossible to trade either of them, for example. Ryan Anderson, who the Pelicans really wanted to keep, appears to be the only player likely to be traded. Jrue Holiday had been mentioned in some trade rumors recently, but the Pelicans consider him an untouchable, according to Brett Dawson and Scott Kushner of The Advocate.
The Pelicans were reportedly gauging interest on Holiday earlier in the season, but they have been "rebuffing" every inquiry they have gotten, according to Zach Lowe of ESPN. The reason the Pelicans are not looking to trade Holiday is because he has recently been thriving off the bench and his contract is very reasonable. Dawson and Kushner have put Holiday and Anthony Davis as the two untouchable players on the Pelicans roster.
Having Holiday be untouchable is interesting and probably not a wise move by the Pelicans. Holiday has had so many injury issues over the past few years that if they can get a good trade opportunity it would be hard to imagine them not jumping all over it. When New Orleans was gauging interest for Holiday, it reportedly wasn't getting good offers because teams were "petrified" of his leg issues. When he is on the floor, Holiday is an All-Star-caliber player, but staying on the floor has been an issue for him the past three seasons.
The Pelicans have moved Holiday to the bench full-time as a way to keep a better eye on his minutes, and he has thrived since then. In 25 games off the bench Holiday is averaging 16.7 points and 5.9 assists per game while his assist-to-turnover ratio is 3:1. Holiday's recent play has certainly brought back the memories of his All-Star season a couple of years ago. Add that to the fact that he is only on the books for a little more than $11 million next season, and the trade interest shouldn't be a surprise.
The Pelicans likely aren't considering trading Holiday because the offers they are receiving have his injury issues in mind. The trades other teams would be willing to make would not bring back the value the Pelicans believe Holiday truly has. For that reason it makes sense that the Pelicans won't trade Holiday, but if they receive a solid, fair offer they have to at least consider it, because who knows when he might get hurt again.
