Pelicans GM David Griffin Says Jrue Holiday Isn't Being Shopped in Trade Talks

Megan ArmstrongAnalyst IIIDecember 18, 2019

Matt Slocum/Associated Press

David Griffin threw water on a report that Jrue Holiday is on the trading block.

The New Orleans Pelicans executive vice president of basketball operations told Jen Hale during the Fox Sports New Orleans broadcast of the team's Tuesday night game against the visiting Brooklyn Nets that he was "clearly not" trying to trade his 29-year-old point guard:

FOXSports NewOrleans @FOXSportsNOLA
Is Jrue Holiday available if the price is right? @JenHale504 caught up with @dg_riff for answers to this and more during tonight's game. #WontBowDown | @PelicansNBA | @Jrue_Holiday11 | @ZionWilliamson https://t.co/mmTD46I6pM

Holiday commented on the rumors after losing 108-101 in overtime to the Nets:

Will Guillory @WillGuillory
Jrue Holiday on the trade rumors: I didn't hear about it until somebody told me ... I'm here to play. I'm always going to give 100 percent.

Marc Stein of the New York Times reported earlier Tuesday that Holiday was "indeed available via trade."

"It would surely cost a significant amount to pry him away from the Pels, but this is a notable change in status given how unavailable Holiday was to interested teams last season," Stein added.

It is plausible that the Pelicans, riding a franchise-worst 12-game losing streak, would be looking to make a move. Holiday could net a nice return, too. The 2012-13 All-Star leads the Pels in assists (6.8), steals (1.8) as well as minutes (36.0) per game.

Holiday is also averaging 19.4 points and 5.0 rebounds across 25 starts.

Griffin's denying Holiday's availability could just be common practice by an executive, keeping the team's cards close, but it could also speak to the Pelicans' expectation to be more competitive once rookie top overall pick Zion Williamson heals from Oct. 21 arthroscopic knee surgery and makes his regular-season debut.

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Griffin added on the broadcast that "nothing has changed at all" in terms of the team's plan to approach trades (h/t the Times-Picayune's Scott Kushner).

Griffin also commented on Williamson's recovery after the 19-year-old forward participated at shootaround Tuesday morning:

Jim Eichenhofer @Jim_Eichenhofer
David Griffin on Zion Williamson status: "We’re really excited with where he’s at. He’s made really good progress. I know we’ve reached that eight-week point and everyone is ready to see him. I think we’re a little ways away yet, but today was a really big first step."

The NBA trade deadline is Feb. 6.

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