The first domino about the NBA trade market fell this week with the reports that Jrue Holiday is readily available. Holiday is a talented point guard for the New Orleans Pelicans. He could honestly help any NBA team including the Milwaukee Bucks. They should explore the option of getting Holiday. It would be a seamless transition from Eric Bledsoe to him. Even though Holiday doesn’t have a ton of playoff experience, it might be an upgrade from the current Bucks point guard. The problem for the Bucks, they would need a third team to make it a reality.

The reason that this is unrealistic for the Bucks is the guys they would have to deal to make it happen. Bledsoe is the obvious one, but to make the money work, they would have to include Ersan Ilyasova or George Hill. It is easy for fans to include Ilyasova, but that is Mike Budenholzer’s guy. If the Bucks front office can convince him to be dealt to New Orleans, Holiday could be a possibility. D.J. Wilson would be on the list, and Sterling Brown only has one year left on his deal. Donte DiVencenzo is absolutely off the table.

One thing to call out about the former UCLA star is the fact he makes a ton of money. Holiday’s contract is 26.3 million per year over the next three years. If he came to Milwaukee, he would be the highest-paid player. And that would mean you’ve added nine million dollars compared to what you have with Bledsoe. While it’s a significant concern about Bledsoe’s playoff struggles, Jon Horst likely would rather not have to figure out how to clear that nine million the next offseason.

As a Bucks fan, I would hope that Holiday stays in the Western Conference. If he gets added to the Miami Heat or Philadelphia 76ers, they’re immediately more of a threat to the Bucks’ chances at winning the Eastern Conference.

Charlie.