Following the Milwaukee Bucks’ exit in the NBA playoffs, rumors have been rife as to what players should be released or traded. The hiring of Adrian Griffin will also play a part, as he will have his own ideas as to what players he would like to work with to achieve his vision for the team.
One of the names that has been involved in the rumor mill is that of point guard Jrue Holiday. The 32-year-old has been with the Bucks for three seasons, being a big reason for their title win back in 2021. He’s been valuable to their success since. However, his postseason struggles have been cause for concern for many, and with him earning $36 million and then having a player option for $38 million in 2024, it may be time to at least get a return for him.
Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of trading Jrue Holiday.
The pros of the Milwaukee Bucks trading Jrue Holiday
There are a few issues that the Bucks need to address not just this offseason but over the coming seasons, and that is regarding the salary cap. For the 2023-24 season, the Bucks have a committed salary of $157.9 million, including player incentives, thus giving them no salary cap space and just $4.1m in the luxury tax space, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
With this being said, the Bucks are needing to shed salaries, and with Giannis Antetokounmpo tied down, it falls on Khris Middleton and his $40 million option or moving on from Holiday. Shedding the salary will allow the Bucks more flexibility in future roster movement but also look to add multiple players that can be effective on less money.
Another big reason to trade Holiday would be to make the roster younger. It is well documented that the Bucks have an aging team, and in the playoffs, it was only MarJon Beauchamp that was under the age of 27. There is the chance for A.J. Green and Lindell Wigginton to earn full deals with the team, but for now, they’re still on their two-way contracts.
Milwaukee certainly has a decision to make regarding Holiday and his contract, whether that is this offseason or later down the line, but for now, here are some ideas we had for players they should target in a trade.