NBA Rumors: Jrue Holiday Playing Possum For Pelicans And For Good Reason

The New Orleans Pelicans are simply going through the motions of finishing the current NBA season as they see how far they can go. With only 8 games remaining, it would be best for the Pels to rest their stars and preserve them for the future.

One player that is sidelined right now is Jrue Holiday. The 28-year-old has been sidelined with a lower abdominal strain, something that kept him out since March 7. At the time, it was mentioned that he would be re-evaluated in 7 to 10 days. Now more than a week after that, the 17th overall pick of the 2009 NBA Draft remains in sickbay, Fansided reported.

Looking ahead and playing for nothing but pride and positioning, the Pelicans may have opted to freeze Holiday instead. The Pelicans are expected to be among the teams gearing up for the 2019 NBA Draft so they could be increasing their chances depending on the win-loss record they end up with this season.

Keeping Holiday in the freezer hardly comes as a surprise. Some may term it tanking although there are several teams who have technically done it. The New York Knicks are a prime example, opting to play their younger players over veterans who are given less playing time.

Looking at the 2019 NBA Draft, the Pelicans could pick anywhere between the 6th to 9th position. For now, there is no inkling on who they would be drafting. That would entirely depend on the personnel needs. And if there is one position that may need filling, it would be the center position.

It is no secret that Anthony Davis will eventually depart New Orleans. Several teams already tried during the February NBA trade deadline but failed. The Lakers offered an outrageous package but the Pelicans still shunned the offer.

Come the summer, The Brow is expected to be widely pursued by several teams. The Lakers could be back to try again although the Boston Celtics may make their move as well. Regardless of who lands him, the fact remains the Pelicans will need to prepare for his imminent departure.

That player could be one of the NBA draft hopefuls, meaning the Pelicans need to do the necessary scouting to fill up that upcoming hole. If they end up picking 6th, they could end up getting a blue-chip player in the front-loaded 2019 NBA Draft.