Jrue Holiday trade odds: Nuggets, Nets, Warriors are NBA betting favorites to land Pelicans All-Star guard

The NBA's version of the Hot Stove League should start heating up once the Players' Association and owners agree on when the 2020-21 season will actually start – it likely will either be Dec. 22 or Jan. 18, which is the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. We could have an answer on which date by Thursday night. However, one hot rumor Wednesday is that the New Orleans Pelicans are shopping former All-Star guard Jrue Holiday. SportsLine has odds on where he might land if dealt.

Shams Charania of The Athletic was the first to report the Pels are "openly discussing star Jrue Holiday in trade talks and several contending teams are pursuing." Why would rising New Orleans want to deal such a terrific all-around player (a member of two All-NBA Defensive Teams) who is also a terrific locker-room guy (voted the 2020 NBA Teammate of the Year)? Last season, Holiday averaged 19.1 points, 6.7 assists and 4.8 rebounds per game.

New Orleans is probably two seasons away from being a threat in the Western Conference and wants to build around its young group of Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball. Holiday is 30, due about $26 million for next season and then has a player option at around $27 million for 2021-22 that he probably declines and hits free agency.

At his age and salary, Holiday doesn't really fit the Pelicans' timetable toward contention and would bring back a terrific haul of young players and/or draft picks. New Orleans reportedly dangled Holiday before last season's Trade Deadline as well.

Pretty much every contender surely would inquire, but in the NBA salaries have to nearly match in any trades. So, while the Lakers would drool over adding Holiday to LeBron James and Anthony Davis, that's going to be tough for L.A. to make the money work. The other L.A. team, the Clippers, is also in win-now mode and can't be ruled out.

The Denver Nuggets of course lost to the Lakers in the West Finals in the bubble and might only be a third star away – along with Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic – of being the favorites in the West.

How about Golden State? Can you imagine Holiday with Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green? Talk about small-ball! The Dubs could build a trade around Andrew Wiggins and the No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 draft. Dallas needs a third star alongside Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis.

The Brooklyn Nets have some intriguing young talent (Caris LeVert, Jarrett Allen, etc.) they could trade New Orleans to add Holiday to Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving this coming season. That team might become the East favorite. Brooklyn is currently the +375 second-favorite to win the East at William Hill sportsbook behind the Bucks (+270).

Milwaukee badly needs a third star to pair with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton after another playoff flameout and in an effort to make Giannis happy ahead of his free agency after next season. The Bucks probably don't have much the Pelicans want, though.

Miami, after coming up short in the NBA Finals to the Lakers, reportedly will not include stellar young Tyler Herro in any Holiday package. New 76ers boss Daryl Morey, formerly of the Rockets, is never afraid to make a big trade. Holiday was the No. 17 overall pick in the 2009 draft by Philadelphia.

Via SportsLine NBA oddsmakers: Favorites to land Jrue Holiday if Pelicans trade him

• Nuggets +250
• Nets +300
• Warriors +400
• Mavericks +700
• Bucks +900
• 76ers +1000
• Heat +1500
• Clippers +1800
• Lakers +2000

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