Jrue Holiday is up for a new contract this summer and the expectation is that the Pelicans have to keep him. New Orleans doesn't have the money to go sign an upgrade for Holiday and this leaves him with all the leverage in contract talks. If the Pelicans don't meet his demands then he can leave in free agency, and there isn't much the Pelicans could do about it.
That's why it shouldn't come as a surprise that Marc Stein is reporting the Pelicans and Holiday are expected to quickly come to terms on an five-year contract once signing is allowed at 12:01 a.m. ET on July 1.
League sources: Growing resignation among interested teams that New Orleans comes to terms quickly with Jrue Holiday on rich five-year deal
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) June 30, 2017
Teams like the Mavericks were reportedly interested in Holiday, but the Pelicans can offer him the most money if they choose to. Considering Stein's report, that appears to be the case and now the only question is how much will New Orleans pay him.
It would be in the Pelicans' best interest to keep discussions short and offer Holiday a near-max deal. If they try to negotiate too long he may just decide to bolt for a different location leaving New Orleans without one of their best guards. It might be an overpay, but what better options are out there?
