The New Orleans Pelicans have signed Nate Robinson to a one-year, veteran's minimum deal on Friday as the team struggles with injuries to their current lineup of point guards. With Robinson in the mix, rumors emerged that the damaged Jrue Holiday could finally be traded to the Sacramento Kings.
CBS Sports reported that Robinson, a three-time NBA slam dunk champion, is the Pelicans' solution to their present floor general woes as Holiday is still not a hundred percent healed from his right tibia stress fracture injury while Norris Cole had been nursing a high ankle sprain he suffered during training camp.
Prior to Robinson's acquisition, head coach Alvin Gentry had been relying on natural shooting guard Tyreke Evans as the team's starting point guard with two of his best playmakers sidelined by injuries. But now, Gentry's starting lineup may change.
There were even speculations that Holiday, who was traded by the Philadelphia 76ers to the Pelicans in 2013 for Nerlens Noel and a 2014 first-round pick (which eventually became Elfrid Payton), might again be on the trading block after Robinson's hiring, particularly to the Kings who reportedly had interest in getting him this summer.
Bleacher Report indicated in late June of this year that the 25-year-old former UCLA standout was being eyed by George Karl to play backup to Darren Collison, but Sacramento eventually signed Rajon Rondo instead to be their starting point guard.
A sensible deal would be the Kings swapping third-year point guard Seth Curry and future draft picks for the 2013 NBA All-Star. However, his present bill of health and Sacramento's now loaded backcourt makes it highly unlikely that Karl is still interested in getting Holiday.