Pelicans take a major risk
The New Orleans Pelicans handed veteran point guard Jrue Holiday an absurd five-year, $126 million contract on Saturday morning. Holiday’s return to New Orleans isn’t necessarily a surprise, as it was reported to being almost a done deal prior to free agency. Still, the terms of the contract are overwhelming.
Holiday himself is somewhat of a major risk. He hasn’t played more than 67 games in any of the past four seasons, missing 122 games during that span.
When on the court, he can act as that perimeter threat to go with the combination of Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins inside. The 27-year-old Holiday averaged 15.4 points and 7.3 assists while shooting at a 36 percent mark from three-point range last season. If he can get that number up to almost 20 points per game, the Pelicans could be a force as a lower seed in the Western Conference this upcoming season.
Then again, the bigger issue here is Holiday’s ability to remain healthy. If he continues with this injury-plagued run, New Orleans won’t sniff the playoffs. Hence, why the $126 million deal was such a major risk.