Report: Nets interested in Jrue Holiday, trade has been discussed

The Brooklyn Nets may be looking to bolster their defense by adding a certain New Orleans Pelicans guard.

Kevin Durant has a high opinion of New Orleans Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday.

Known for his defensive prowess, Holiday “is solidified as probably the best defender in the league at the guard position,” in Durant’s opinion — which he recently expressed on JJ Redick’s The Old Man & the Three podcast.

So when Holiday didn’t make either the First or Second NBA All-Defensive Teams, Durant had something to say:

When we talk about defense, a lot of people don’t really understand what defense really means. For different positions, especially at point guard, the stuff you have to do to guard, they don’t get a lot of credit for fighting over screens especially now they getting screened at half court, guys are running off of pindowns.

Not only did Holiday not even make the second team, he wasn’t even the last guard out. He trailed Chicago’s Kris Dunn and Toronto’s Kyle Lowry in the guard voting.

“You put Jrue in any system, any coach is going to ask him to guard the best player,” Durant said on Redick’s show (via Jacob Rude of USA Today SMG’s Lonzo Wire). We played them in 2018, second round and he guarded me the whole series. He was picking me up full court, he was guarding me in the post. Actually, it was tough to dribble on Jrue Holiday. He slides his feet so well, he’s got good hands, he’s strong, he’s got good instincts. I gained a lot of respect for him in that series because he went from guarding me to Klay (Thompson) to Steph (Curry) to guarding Draymond (Green), neutralizing picks and rolls. He’s special. He’s special on that side of the ball.”

Given Durant’s opinion of the veteran guard, it wouldn’t be shocking if the Nets superstar wanted to play alongside Holiday.

According to Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson of Heavy.com, Brooklyn is “interested” in Holiday:

Players & picks have been discussed. Have heard that Nets offer is [Spencer] Dinwiddie/[Jarrett] Allen/[Dzanan] Musa and a protected future 1st. … nothing can be done before the Bubble ends and a trade window opens.

Without question, adding Holiday would make Brooklyn tougher on the defensive end — even if Allen is part of the deal.