Throughout his lengthy NBA career with the Philadelphia 76ers, New Orleans Pelicans, and the Milwaukee Bucks, Jrue Holiday has played with his share of reputable teammates.
As the Bucks attempt to retool their roster this offseason following a tough playoff exit, perhaps they could look to target some of those former teammates. Whether it is due to how the players fit, what they bring to the table, or their affordability, there are several former teammates of the four-time All-Defensive honoree that would be captivating targets for the Bucks to pursue in the upcoming offseason, especially via trade. With that being said, let us look at three targets that fit the description and should be on Milwaukee’s radar over the next few months.
3 Milwaukee Bucks’ trade targets with ties to Jrue Holiday – Justin Holiday
Not only is Justin Holiday the older brother of Jrue Holiday, but the two were briefly teammates during the 2012-13 season with the Philadelphia 76ers. Obviously, there is plenty of familiarity between those two, which is a prominent reason why Justin has been mentioned as a desirable trade target for the Milwaukee Bucks over the past two years and why targeting the swingman once again this offseason would be a justifiable move.
First and foremost, Milwaukee needs to add depth on the wing this offseason, as their lack of it was a significant issue in their recent playoff run. Swinging a deal for Holiday would immediately help shore up their depth in that regard, giving them a versatile 6-foot-6 veteran that can play at the shooting guard or small forward position when called upon. Holiday has found his niche as an impactful role player over the past five seasons due to his scoring and shooting ability, averaging 10.3 points while shooting 37 percent from three on 5.8 attempts per game. Those numbers are certainly eye-catching and could make Holiday a welcoming fit to a second unit that struggled to contribute much offensively last season.
Financially, Holiday is also not the most difficult trade target for the Bucks to piece together a deal for if he is available. The 33-year-old is set to make a relatively reasonable $6.3 million during the 2022-23 season, which places him well within Milwaukee’s range. The question is whether or not the Sacramento Kings would be willing to trade the veteran, given that they are seemingly looking to collect win-now players to finally turn things around next season, and Holiday could likely help. However, if they are willing to entertain trade offers, the Bucks should inquire about Justin to try and pair him up with Jrue once again. Whether it be with Giannis and Thanasis or Brook and Robin, the Bucks have had several brother tandems over the years, and they could look to make another.