Utah Jazz: Top free agent prospects from across the league

Jrue Holiday

If George Hill ends up not being in Utah’s future plans, there’s no other point guard at a similar price range that I’d like them to add more than Jrue Holiday. Holiday’s numbers don’t exactly jump off the page, but much like was the case for Hill this season and as I mentioned previously that I would envision with Jeff Teague, I’d expect them to improve with the Jazz.

Holiday could definitely use a career revamp as he has been on a struggling New Orleans Pelicans team for some of the best years of his career. Still, he’s only 26-years-old, is a solid finisher and a superb passer, and could be an excellent replacement at the point guard position for the Jazz next season.

Durability is definitely one worry for Holiday, but he has played over 60 games the past two seasons and the majority of his missed time this past year was for personal reasons due to his wife’s brain surgery and ensuing recovery, not due to health issues of his own. That kind of family dedication is also perfectly in line with typical Jazz culture meaning that on and off the court Holiday could be an ideal fit.

As much as I like George Hill and enjoyed what he brought to the team this season, if Utah were to replace him with Jrue Holiday, I wouldn’t complain in the slightest. Unfortunately, with few other options on the part of the New Orleans Pelicans, there’s a very good chance that they will throw max or near-max money at Holiday and this could very well hinder Utah’s ability or interest in signing him.