Does Sam Hinkie Need To Learn When To Hold Em?

April 18, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday (11, right) fouls Golden State Warriors guard

(30) in front of Pelicans forward

(23, left) during the fourth quarter in game one of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Pelicans 106-99. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Jrue Holiday

Its tough to find flaws with the results of the Jrue Holiday trade.  Holiday was the lone tradeable asset on the Sixers when Hinkie arrived.   That asset and the 42 pick was quickly converted into Nerlen Noels and the 2014 first round pick (eventually number twelve that netted Dario Saric, who continues to play in Europe until at last guess 2016).

It was the mechanics of the trade where the deal’s flaws surfaced.   The Sixers had to pay $3 Million to the New Orleans Pelicans for failure to disclose the fact that Holiday had several stress fractures in his lower right leg.  Those injuries have limited his playing time with the Pelicans – only 74 games in the past two years.

It’s tough to say the Sixers didn’t get the best of that trade.  The deal also gave the Sixers room and reason to pick  Michael Carter-Williams with the eleventh pick who became the NBA rookie of the year in the 2013-14 season.

But what of Jrue?  As indicated, he’s played 74 games for the Pelicans, and been shooting a 44.65% FG accuracy, and averaged 14.58 PPG.  Reading up on Jrue’s production since the 76ers almost makes me feel bad for their fans – so many high hopes and expectations have been met with disappointment.   Holiday runs the team when he’s on the court, but he’s only getting involved in 45% of their games, and limited in minutes in the games he’s playing in.

Holiday is working hard to come back.  He’s had surgery to place a metal rod in his tibia to facilitate the healing process.  In 2014, the Pelicans debated shutting him down completely.  Even to this day, he’s experiencing pain in his lower leg.

Holiday was a great player for the 76ers.  But with so much to overcome, I cannot foresee his achieving the potential that was believed to be present in that trade.

Sixers grade:  B+  (had to lower the grade for the deception)