The Philadelphia 76ers have difficult of decisions to make this summer. One of them is to pursue one time Sixer Jrue Holiday in free agency.
Through the draft or free agency the Philadelphia 76ers will gain a point guard. It is not a matter of if, but rather a matter of when and who. Fans have been speculating that the storied franchise should pursue former Sixers All-Star point guard Jrue Holiday. Holiday reunites with the franchise that made him an All-Star and when Sixers need point guard most. At the surface it seems like a match made in heaven, wrong. Bringing Holiday back to Philadelphia might be the worst move the Sixers could make.
Injury History
More from Free Agency
- Grade the Deal: 76ers match Jazz’s wily offer sheet, keep Paul Reed
- Grade the Deal: 76ers sign free agent Mo Bamba, retain Montrezl Harrell
- Philadelphia 76ers add center depth by signing Mo Bamba
- This stunning free agency slip could doom the 76ers next season
- 5 best remaining free agents the 76ers should target
Since being traded from the City of Brotherly Love Holiday has had injuries woes during his time with the New Orleans Pelicans. If Holiday plays all ten remaining games for the Pelicans this season he would only have played 206 out of a possible 328 regular season games. Which is obviously not good, granted he missed the majority of games this season because of his wife’s recovery and nobody should fault him for that. Still giving Holiday any significant money with his history injury would be foolish.
The Money
Even if one can justify his injury history, his price tag might be too much for the Philadelphia 76ers. Now before I am taken to town square to have rotten vegetables thrown at me, hear me out.
Yes the Sixers currently have plenty of cap room however, that will soon change. Paying Robert Covington and Joel Embiid will come up in the next couple of seasons will eat up that space. With Holiday’s injury history plus having to deal with Covington’s and Embiid’s contracts, a short term, big money deal would be the best deal for 76ers. However, if Holiday has a smart agent they would want a long term deal, which is not what the Sixers would agree too. To be honest, it is very unlikely that the two sides could agree on deal that could benefit them both.
The Competition
The Philadelphia 76ers will not be the only team in the market for the former All-Star. Most notable of suitors is the team that he currently plays for. The Pelicans have to best duo of big men in the league with Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins. With a duo that good that the Pels will need a point guard to feed them the ball. Holiday has not done a bad job with that job this season and even considered part of a “Big 3” according to William Guillory of the NOLA.com The Times- Picayune. If this is so then there is no way Pelicans won’t let him walk without a bidding war.
In review, the Philadelphia 76ers don’t want to get a point guard for a long term contract and that has significant injury history. Getting into a bidding war with a franchise that is trying to form a “Big 3” will cost the Sixers much more than Holiday is worth.
Next: Whatever Happened to Former Sixer MCW?
Unless the Philadelphia 76ers get Holiday on a short term deal that is financially team friendly the franchise should not even look at him as an option.