Bucks make case to Giannis with Holiday trade

Nov 18

The Milwaukee Bucks, who are seeking to convince two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo to stay with the team longer, made a trade on Monday night with the New Orleans Pelicans to obtain All-Star point guard Jrue Holiday.

Milwaukee has built its quest for a title around Antetokounmpo, who has emerged as one of the world’s best players.

Jrue Holiday is an available player on the trade market that checks all of the boxes and can play both guard positions. He's the best defender at the guard position and can score and dish the ball! @Jrue_Holiday11
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) November 16, 2020

In return for Holiday, the Bucks will send guards Eric Bledsoe and George Hill, along with three first-round draft picks, to the Pelicans. The draft picks seem to be the cost to keep “The Greek Freak.”

Milwaukee has put a premium on keeping Antetokounmpo, who was the 2020 NBA Defensive Player of the Year, on their roster, as he becomes a free agent after the 2021 season.

Meanwhile, New Orleans is set to see a mad influx of talent over the next few years thanks to deals with the Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers.

Not sure these trades move the Bucks that much closer to a championship, but if they move them closer to keeping Giannis that's all that matters
— J.A. Adande (@jadande) November 17, 2020

Is that a lot for Jrue Holiday? Yes.

If getting Jrue Holiday keeps Giannis in town after ’21? You do it 100 times out of 100 and twice on Sunday.
— David Aldridge (@davidaldridgedc) November 17, 2020