Report: Nuggets expected to show interest in Jrue Holiday

Jrue Holiday is one of the biggest names on this summer’s free agent market and the 27-year-old is expected to draw interest from the Denver Nuggets, according to Sean Deveney of Sporting News.

That leaves the Pelicans with scant competition. Holiday will draw interest from the Nuggets, a source said, and Denver is expected to be aggressive on the free-agent market. And, for the Pelicans, it only takes one team to draw Holiday away. But in handicapping Holiday’s next move, the Pelicans have the upper hand.

Holiday is coming off a productive season in New Orleans where he averaged 15.4 points, 3.9 rebounds and 7.4 assists per game. The point guard also appeared in 67 games with the Pelicans last year, the most he’s played since the 2012-13 season.

Armed with potentially upwards of $40 million in cap space, the Nuggets are expected to be aggressive this summer in landing a top-tier free agent. They’ve reportedly shown interest in Paul Millsap and could turn their attention towards Blake Griffin once July 1 hits and the free agency period opens. Jamal Murray, who only started seven games at point guard in his rookie year, is expected to open the regular season at that spot, but the Nuggets could look towards a more veteran presence as insurance for the 20-year-old with a top-eight seed in sight for next season. Denver also has both 35-year-old Jameer Nelson, who’s coming off a productive year, and Emmanuel Mudiay under contract through 2018.

However, the Pelicans are expected to retain Holiday due to their salary cap situation. New Orleans holds Holiday’s Bird Rights and can go over the cap to re-sign him, but if Dell Demps and Pelicans’ management lets Holiday walk, they’d only have $13 million of cap room to replace him.

With expectations mounting in New Orleans after the mid-season acquisition of DeMarcus Cousins, expect the Pelicans to re-sign Holiday and give him a full season to mesh with Cousins and Anthony Davis.

According to The Vertical, the Pelicans plan to meet with Holiday at 12:01 a.m. ET on July 1 but the eight-year veteran intends to take meetings elsewhere during the first 48 hours of free agency if he can’t come to an agreement with New Orleans. The Pelicans also hold an advantage over other potential suitors considering they can offer Holiday a five-year contract while he could only garner a four-year deal elsewhere.