The Future of Justin Holiday
The 3 and D wing has garnered much trade interest this season and the Bulls must capitalize now.
Justin Holiday has bounced around the NBA for much of his career. Since being drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers, he has gone to Golden State and won a ring, and went to the Atlanta Hawks before ping-ponging back and forth between the Bulls and Knicks. Once again, it’s time that Justin finds a new home.
The Bulls need to make a move sooner rather than later. After lighting up the box score early in the season, gaining the alter-ego of “Headband Holiday” or “Dreads Holiday”–like that of “Hoodie Melo”. Since this explosion, Holiday has significantly cooled off. His 3 point shot has not fallen as of late, and as a whole he is no longer a reliable scoring option for Chicago. Holiday is still a very solid defender and if he can recapture his early-success, then he can be a very solid rotational piece on a playoff team. He fits the mold of a 3 and D player, but he needs to get the “3” back in sync.
According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, “several” teams have shown trade interest in Justin Holiday. The teams have not been named, however it is likely that teams such as the Philadelphia 76ers are interested. Depth players such as Holiday are key to deep playoff runs. In fact, a return to the 76ers is likely one of the best trade destinations for Holiday. He gets to help a team trying to make a run in the East, while the Bulls free up minutes for young players such as Chandler Hutchison, as well as acquiring other young assets. Markelle Fultz would be ideal, which I explore in this article here. It would be smart of GarPax to get something for Justin Holiday rather than let him walk for nothing this offseason. Players like Justin, Jabari Parker, and Robin Lopez should ALL be traded before the deadline if they have a market. Fans hate and doubt GarPax’s ability to function in the front office. While making these trades would not, by any means, fix this relationship, it would be a step in the right direction, and a helpful one for this basketball team. As a rebuilding team, acquiring as many assets as possible should be a goal for the long run. Holiday has no future with the Bulls. One way or another, he won’t be here next year.
Not to sound like a broken record, but this team is in a rebuild. Giving minutes to young players is what needs to happen, especially first round picks. Justin Holiday is snatching up nearly 34 minutes a game, while the rookie Chandler Hutchison is averaging a mere 17. With the injury to Denzel Valentine, Hutch should be getting more minutes. Holiday should not be doubling his minutes, especially with how he’s been preforming as of late. Hutch hasn’t been phenomenal, but he’ll never get better if he doesn’t get more playing time. He can be a piece of the Bull’s core. Once again, Holiday will not be with the team past this season.
The trade deadline is an exciting time of year during the NBA season. Look for the Bulls to make some moves, but don’t be surprised if GarPax let’s us down again.
Featured Image: nba.com
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