Milwaukee Bucks: Jrue Holiday speaks on trade, future in Milwaukee

The newly acquired Jrue Holiday recently detailed his thoughts after being traded to the Milwaukee Bucks in a blockbuster deal this offseason.

The Milwaukee Bucks landed a surefire upgrade in the backcourt after acquiring All-Star guard Jrue Holiday from the New Orleans Pelicans in a four-team deal last month.

Aside from Giannis Antetokounmpo’s looming decision on the supermax extension, Holiday coming to Milwaukee has been the headline of the Bucks’ offseason. Now, Holiday and his wife Lauren have shared their thoughts on being traded to the team with the best regular season record in consecutive seasons.

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Having appeared on The Bird Calls podcast, the pair detailed their excitement about their next destination after spending the last seven years in New Orleans.

First, the pair described their feelings on the king’s ransom that the Bucks gave up to get Holiday, including Eric Bledsoe, George Hill, three future first round draft picks, and the rights to two future pick swaps, as transcribed Preston Ellis of The Bird Writes:

"“That made me love Milwaukee right away,” Lauren said. “I feel like Jrue has been undervalued. Obviously, I’m his wife so I think the world of him, but I feel like he’s been undervalued in the league: his skill, what he offers to a team, leadership wise in the locker room. I feel like Jrue truly invests in people. He has a heart for people and has a very loyal attitude towards an organization. And then on the court speaks for itself. It felt good for a team to show him how valued he is.”“I’m not usually the type to be excited about somebody trying to woo me, but it felt good,” Jrue said in reference to what the Bucks gave up to acquire him. “It felt good to see how much they respect and value me.”"

The ultimate reason why the Bucks made such a move was because of their ongoing pitch towards two-time MVP and the reigning Defensive Player of the Year in Antetokounmpo. The guard’s playmaking and floor spacing capabilities will do wonders next to Giannis, and Jrue spoke on his excitement to play with the Greek Freak after battling against him over the last seven years:

"“I’m really excited,” Jrue said as he spoke of Giannis. “Just going up against him, guarding him, seeing him go up against Anthony has been super exciting. Now it’s a new chapter where I get to play with this guy who’s the (two-time) MVP. He does everything. I don’t know what he can’t do. I’m here to help, I’m here to support, but I’m also here to win.”"

Holiday appears eager as the rest of us to see him playing for the Bucks this season, and we are just a few weeks ago from the 2020-21 opening tip.

While Jrue Holiday holds a player option for the 2021-22 season, he and his wife spoke on his future with the Milwaukee Bucks.

It was on the ‘Posted Up’ podcast hosted by Yahoo! Sports’ Chris Haynes where Jrue and his wife addressed the elephant in the room as far as his future in Milwaukee goes beyond the 2020-21 season.

Holding a $26.3 million player option for the 2021-22 campaign, the risk of having Holiday for a one-year rental has undoubtedly stressed some Bucks fans in the wake of the trade and the price it took to get him. However, Jrue and Lauren shared some words of encouragement on that front.

"Haynes: Could you see a future in Milwaukee beyond this year? Is that something you’re open to or do you want to take the wait and see approach?Jrue: We’re for sure open to it. Again, I’m about winning, and this franchise over the past few years, they have been doing a very good job of that. Man, I’m really trying to win, to be completely honest. I’m trying to put banners up there, put a ring on my finger, and I’m trying to have fun doing it. This really seems like it could be the place for that."

Time will tell if the treasure chest of assets the Bucks coughed up to get Jrue Holiday will be worth it, but to hear that a long-term future with the Bucks is on the table is relieving. Especially when he’ll be eligible for a four-year, $135 million extension in February with the Bucks as ESPN’s Bobby Marks ($$) recently noted.

Next. Milwaukee Bucks: Getting to know All-Star guard Jrue Holiday. dark

Holiday forms a formidable trio alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton, one that could compete in the Eastern Conference for years to come. If all breaks right for him and the Bucks, Holiday may very well have a championship ring on his finger at season’s end this year.

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