New Orleans Pelicans guards Tyreke Evans and Jrue Holiday. (Photo : Getty Images)
Recent NBA trade rumors have emerged that the New Orleans Pelicans might opt to trade busted point guard Jrue Holiday to the Sacramento Kings in an attempt to fill-in for injured shooting guard Tyreke Evans, who reportedly will be out for at least six to eight weeks following an arthroscopic knee surgery last week.
NBC Sports' Pro Basketball Talk reported that according to head coach Alvin Gentry, the 26-year-old shooting guard "would likely miss the first 14 games" of the coming season and may return "around Nov. 23" at the earliest after undergoing a medical procedure for his right knee on October 20.
With this latest setback, the Pelicans signed veteran guard Nate Robinson to a one-year deal to support Eric Gordon as the only healthy backcourt men available for coach Gentry.
Holiday, who was traded by the Philadelphia 76ers to New Orleans in July 2013 for young big man Nerlens Noel and their 2014 first round pick, suffered a right tibia injury in the middle of his 2013-2014 campaign with the Pelicans that required surgery. He was sidelined after only 34 games that season.
The 17th overall pick of the 2009 draft never fully recovered and was never the same since then and is reportedly being given only 15 minutes of playing time per game as not to aggravate his condition.
Aside from Holiday, point guard Norris Cole is also out with a high ankle sprain, which could sideline him deep into the season as well.
With their options getting limited, a rumor published at the Gospel Herald said that the signing of three-time slam dunk champion Robinson "prompted rumors that Jrue Holiday might be heading toward the trading block, specifically to the Sacramento Kings locker room."
Speculations early in the offseason were swirling that George Karl was interested in taking a risk about acquiring Holiday. But since the Kings have added Rajon Rondo as their starting point guard, rumors of a Holiday deal have also died down.
