Milwaukee Bucks: Jrue Holiday would be a dream trade target

The Milwaukee Bucks are adamant about making some roster improvements this offseason, and a Jrue Holiday trade should be atop their wishlist.

With back to back early playoff exits in the rearview, the Milwaukee Bucks now shift their focus on improving the roster heading into next season.

It seems relatively obvious that upgrading at the guard position is priority No. 1 for the Bucks following three straight disappointing postseason outings from Eric Bledsoe. Who that upgrade could be has been a hot topic of discussion for weeks now, but Jrue Holiday is an ideal fit.

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Holiday has been a topic of trade discussion league-wide for years now, with occasional rumblings of his ability coming to light, but nothing outright. Another offseason means more teams looking to pry the 30-year-old away from the New Orleans Pelicans, and the Milwaukee Bucks should take part.

To put things simply, Jrue Holiday fits the archetype of what Milwaukee needs to get over the postseason hump in every aspect.

Appearing in 61 games with New Orleans this season, Holiday averaged 19.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 6.7 assists per contest on .455/.353/.709 shooting splits. His play on the defensive end was also up to par, a staple in his career. Earning two All-Defensive selections over the years, Holiday has asserted himself as one of the best two-way guards in all of basketball.

Perhaps the most crucial aspect of Holiday’s game is how his play transfers over into the postseason. Bucks’ fans, unfortunately, know of the haunting reality surrounding players regressing in the playoffs, which is leading to this desire to upgrade the roster in the first place. Holiday’s postseason play, on the other hand, is nothing short of impressive.

In 30 playoff games over his 11-year-career to this point, Holiday averaged 17.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game on .453/.387/.806 shooting splits. If the Milwaukee Bucks had a player of that nature on their roster during this year’s postseason run, odds are they go beyond the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

Essentially, Jrue Holiday checks off all of the boxes for the Bucks. A playmaker, a capable 3-point shooter, an outstanding defender, and most importantly, reliable in the postseason. The guard is the type of player that can turn the tide for an NBA contender, but that also means he is no easy grab. The 30-year-old comes with a hefty price tag of $51 million over the next two seasons, but for a Milwaukee team that is championship or bust heading into next season, a move like this is precisely what they need.

The most significant variable in this entire scenario, however, is if the New Orleans Pelicans decide to make Holiday available for trade finally. With the team focusing on a long-term future led by promising youngsters like Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram, stockpiling assets by dealing the veteran guard while his value is sky-high might be a viable option.

Piecing together an enticing trade package could prove challenging for the Bucks with their limited resources, but a starting point could look similar to this, proposed by Nekias Duncan of Bleacher Report earlier this season:

For Milwaukee, they land the star guard that they need to contend for a title in Jrue Holiday, while New Orleans gets a plethora of assets they can utilize in building a winning culture. Eric Bledsoe gives the Pelicans another two-time All-Defensive guard to set the tone, along with an ascending two-way guard in Donte DiVincenzo, and an expiring contract for flexibility with Ersan Ilyasova.

Milwaukee’s first round pick from the Indiana Pacers could be the most vital piece of the deal and would undoubtedly make a trade more attractive.

All in all, this is purely speculation focusing on one way the Milwaukee Bucks could upgrade at guard this offseason through trade. While there is no confirmed interest in Jrue Holiday from Milwaukee’s end just yet, there is no doubt he could be a desirable trade target if made available.