Nick Piccone
The Sixers have lacked a point guard for a long time, and by all accounts, Ben Simmons will be their point guard when he returns from injury. Whenever that is.
But today, Zach Lowe of ESPN penned a rather lengthy article about Jrue Holiday and what lies ahead. Holiday is a free agent after this season, barring an unforeseen extension being signed or being traded and then signing with that new team long-term. The Pelicans don’t want to lose Holiday, but if they know they won’t be able to retain him, it’s in their best interest to trade him while they can.
He hasn’t thought about free agency yet — “not even a little bit,” [Holiday] said. The team is worried he will walk, and that his departure will leave Davis frustrated about the franchise’s direction.
The Pelicans will probably ride it out with Holiday, and hope the bidding for him doesn’t get $20-million-per-year frothy. They might win that bet. Chicago and Dallas, two obvious suitors, won’t have that kind of room unless funky stuff happens with options linked to Dirk Nowitzki and Dwyane Wade. The Spurs can’t get there unless Pau Gasol opts out.
That would leave only Sacramento, Philadelphia, New York, and perhaps Orlando as big-money suitors in dire need of a point guard. The Sixers will take a hard look at Holiday, sources say; he fits what they need around Ben Simmons, and the hilariousness of Philly bringing Holiday back after flipping him to start The Process is irresistible.
Lowe isn’t wrong here. Holiday coming back to Philly and being surrounded by Simmons, Joel Embiid, Dario Saric and either Nerlens Noel or Jahlil Okafor [or maybe neither … or both!], would be pretty damn hilarious. That’s what we call a full-circle ending, ladies and gentlemen.
How much would Holiday command? Lowe notes that if teams go up to $20 million per year to try and sign Holiday, the Pelicans probably wouldn’t be able to compete. But $15 million? They might just be able to bring him back. But screw that. I’d like to see Holiday in a Sixers uniform again.