Milwaukee Bucks: 3 things to watch for squaring off against New Orleans Pelicans

What to do with Jrue?

Of course, the Pelicans are more than just Williamson and general manager David Griffin is starting to see the blueprint start to click after their injury-riddled start to the season.

Brandon Ingram has transformed his game in the Big Easy and has subsequently earned his first career All-Star selection last week. But recently, all eyes have been on veteran guard Jrue Holiday ahead of Thursday’s trade deadline.

There is some question as to whether Holiday is truly available to be had before the deadline, depending on where you’ve looked, but ESPN’s Zach Lowe described the 29-year-old as the “belle of the ball” in his essential trade deadline preview published Monday morning. Certainly, the Pelicans’ midseason resurgence has played a part in that and he reportedly remains committed to seeing it out with the Pelicans for the rest of the season, per The Athletic’s Shams Charania.

Holiday has gone through a somewhat down year where he’s averaging 19.7 points on a .444/.350/.713 slash line, 6.3 assists, 4.7 rebounds and 1.7 steals over his 41 appearances for the season.

With two more years on his contract before having a $27.1 million player option for the 2021-22 season, there’s certainly no financial incentive to move Holiday off the books. At the same time, along with the caliber of player Holiday is, he could yield some significant players and assets for the Pelicans, should they feel the need to part with the one-time All-Star.

Could the Pelicans’ meeting versus the Bucks be the last time Holiday is in a New Orleans uniform? We’ll just have to see.