The Boston Celtics “have emerged as a potential destination” for New Orleans Pelicans star guard Jrue Holiday, according to Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer.
The Celtics have reportedly offered up their three first round picks (Nos. 14, 26 and 30) in order to move up in the draft, possibly to No. 6.
However, they intend to “reroute” the No. 14 pick to the Pelicans in a deal to acquire Holiday, sources tell O’Connor.
The Celtics wouldn’t be able to take on Holiday’s contract, which is $26.2 million for the 2020-2021 NBA season, so they could look to possibly send away someone with a significant salary like Gordon Hayward or even Kemba Walker.
Hayward makes more sense, as he will be on an expiring contract if he ultimately picks up his player option.
It has been reported that the Pelicans are shopping Holiday and he has also received interest from the Atlanta Hawks and Denver Nuggets.
If the Celtics were to keep their No. 14 pick, they could draft R.J. Hampton as a player who could provide some scoring off the bench in the near future and more importantly, provide “long-term upside” in the distant future, as he is only 19 years old.
