Bucks Get a Third Star for Giannis
The offseason continues to roll as the next big time trade came through with a late night Shams-bomb. Giannis Antetokounmpo gets a third, All-Star caliber running mate to try and conquer the Eastern Conference - Jrue Holiday.
The Milwaukee Bucks are sending Eric Bledsoe, George Hill, three first round picks, and two pick-swaps to the New Orleans Pelicans for Jrue Holiday.
Milwaukee’s Perspective
This could not have turned out any better for Milwaukee. It was clear after this past year, and all the years prior that Bledsoe was not working out. Why they chose him over Malcolm Brogdon, the world may never know, but in this deal they get a very clear upgrade in Holiday.
Although Holiday hasn’t been an All-Star since his days in Philadelphia, his talent has not diminished in the slightest. He is commonly regarded as one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA and despite playing mainly at shooting guard in recent years, he still maintains all the skills from his time at point guard at the beginning of his career. Holiday is built to be the number two option on a contending team and this is going to give him the perfect opportunity to. With Antetokounmpo as the number one option, and Khris Middleton not far behind as the third option, this makes Milwaukee even more of a threat in the Eastern Conference.
Losing Hill is losing one of the best bench pieces in the league, but as a whole they got Holiday for a steal. The idea of upgrading from Bledsoe to Holiday is perfect, and that upgrade is well worth losing Hill. As far as the draft picks, they’re completely useless to Milwaukee at this point as they try to win a championship. They go pretty far into the future, though, so if Antetokounmpo leaves after a failed next season, it could hurt them. However, their goal is clearly to entice Antetokounmpo to stay with the team, and this move helps them do that.
New Orleans’ Perspective
Honestly, at first glance, I thought the Pelicans would get a little bit more in return for the former All-Star. The rumors I was hearing had to do with a package from the Nets, Celtics, or Heat. However, after more and more news came in about the absurd amount of picks the Bucks gave up, it’s a pretty solid deal overall. The players they got aren’t anything that will fit well with their team, but the picks are a decent package.
I question how well Bledsoe and Lonzo Ball can fit together, especially since the goal for New Orleans should be to surround Zion Williamson with shooters. While Hill is one of the best three-point shooters (percentage-wise) league-wide, Bledsoe is the exact opposite of a shooter. Ball is a decent enough shooter, as well as tall enough, to play the two-guard, but his elite passing ability should almost cement him as a point guard.
Who knows, maybe the draft picks could turn into something if they draft well, but that’s for the future to decide. What do you think of the deal? Are the Bucks the new favorites in the East? Let me know down below in the comments!
