Report: Nuggets a ‘strong threat’ to trade for Jrue Holiday

Are the Denver Nuggets making progress on a Jrue Holiday trade?

With the recent news surrounding James Harden and Russell Westbrook, New Orleans Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday is still arguably the hottest name on the trade market. The Denver Nuggets have long been known to have interest in acquiring Holiday but, now, Denver is considered to be a “strong threat” to actually secure a trade for the highly-respected veteran.

Per Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix, several front office executives believe the Nuggets’ young players could be the difference-maker in a potential deal.

Aside from Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr., who are all but untouchable in trade talks, Denver does have an interesting assortment of young talent.

Players like Gary Harris (26-years-old) and Bol Bol (21-years-old) are sure to be enticing to a team like the Pelicans, as they need to improve their defense and add a floor-spacing big to maximize Zion Williamson’s production.

In addition, while Harris has appeared to take steps back in his development, injuries and the growth of other players — not to mention players that the Nuggets traded for, drafted or signed — have led to him having less offensive opportunities than he had in past seasons.

It was just two seasons ago that Harris was averaging 17.5 points per game. In the 2019 NBA Playoffs, he averaged 14.2 points per game. Due to his current state of health and his age, there’s reason that he can return to that level of productivity, only increasing his value to New Orleans.

However, a young team themselves, the Pelicans appear to want a top-10 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft as well.

This coincides with a report that Denver has explored trading into the top-10 themselves although it’s possible that the Nuggets could also value a particular prospect projected to be drafted within that range.

If Denver manages to secure a top-10 pick, or perhaps even a lottery pick, they may be able to complete a trade for Holiday and have an early Christmas.

Will Barton, who Denver is reported to have been offered in a trade package for Holiday at the trade deadline, may be traded as well. With the asking price for Holiday so high and there being no certainty that he’ll remain with the Nuggets past the 2020-21, there are those who believe that trading for him could be more trouble than it’s worth.

You have to respect Denver swinging for the fences, especially with a number of teams looking to return to the Big Three model to become more daunting foes.