If you went to bed waiting for New Orleans Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday to be traded to the Boston Celtics, you’re in for some bad news.
The coveted veteran is reportedly on his way to the Milwaukee Bucks for Eric Bledsoe, George Hill, three first-round picks and three pick swaps in a monumental package for the now former Pelican, per the Athletic’s Shams Charania.
Holiday averaged 19.1 points and 6.7 assists per game last season while shooting 45.5% from the field and 35.3% from beyond the arc, a clear upgrade on both ends over Bledsoe who has struggled in the postseason.
And that’s not even the only significant deal Milwaukee made late Monday night.
New Orleans also receives two future draft pick swaps from Milwaukee, along with three firsts, sources said. https://t.co/pZtkfvZkrD
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 17, 2020
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports the Bucks also dealt Donte DiVincenzo, D.J. Wilson and Ersan Ilyasova to the Sacramento Kings for forward Bogdan Bogdanovic in a sign-and-trade agreed to in principle ahead of the lifting of the signing moratorium later this week.
The moves add shooting and defense to a team that needed more of both in the 2020 NBA playoffs, two solid trades committed with the intention of keeping back-to-back league MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo happy – and in Milwaukee.
For those upset that Boston was not able to land a similar deal for one of these players, it’s important to remember one cannot force another team to take your assets — or operate on a timetable that is convenient.
