NBA insider explained how Celtics could possibly land Jrue Holiday

November 12, 2020 | 2:17 p.m.

The Celtics have become a potential destination for New Orleans Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday, according to Kevin O’Connor of The ring.

Holiday, a versatile and seasoned 6-foot-4 combo guard – whose peers in 2019 chose him as the league’s most underrated player – has been a frequent speaker in trade talks this offseason. Now the Celtics have established themselves as a contender to land Holiday, who averaged 19.1 points, 6.7 assists and 3.8 rebounds last season and was a first-team All-Defensive selection in 2017. -18.

O’Connor reported Thursday that the Celtics could pack their three first-round picks – Nos. 14, 26 and 30 – to move on to the lottery and return the pick to New Orleans. He said the Celtics offered those picks in the trades to try and move on to the lottery, but now they’re hoping to “redirect that pick” to the Pelicans.

The Atlanta Hawks, according to O’Connor, have had business conversations with the Pelicans, for Holiday, and the Celtics, for all three picks in exchange for the No.6 pick. It won’t be logistically easy to sort out, but it is possible, O’Connor said.

“If Boston is able to acquire the necessary assets, it would have to add more salaries to make the deal work,” O’Connor wrote. “… Either way, the Celtics are up to something big to try and strengthen their title chances.

Brian Robb, from Boston Sports Journal, pointed out that Holiday makes $ 26.1 million, so if the Celtics want to trade for him, the deal should include one from Gordon Hayward, Kemba Walker or Marcus Smart for pay equalization purposes. He added that Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are “off the table” in trade negotiations.

“I’ll say this,” Robb tweeted. “If the Celtics are considering moving all three first-round picks (plus a main room) in a multi-team deal for Jrue Holiday, the C’s are going to have to recoup more than just a vacation to make it worth that kind of package.

He then noted that the Pelicans had several other commercial chips that could be available in a deal, including JJ Redick, Josh Hart and Derrick Favors (free agent via signing and trading).

A potential lineup of Holiday, Smart, Brown, Tatum and Daniel Theis would have a good chance of becoming a defensive juggernaut.