Milwaukee Bucks of America’s Nigerian-born star, Giannis Adetokunbo (Antetokounmpo) is bound to have less weight on his shoulders in the coming season, as the National Basketball Association (NBA) side have acquired a ‘helping hand’ for him.
This is the view of former three-time NBA champion, BJ Armstrong, who sees the arrival of Jrue Holiday in Milwaukee as the long-expected assistance Antetokounmpo needs to help The Bucks mount a bold assault on the coming season.
Holiday was named the 2020 NBA Teammate of the Year after averaging 19.1 points, 6.7 assists and 4.8 rebounds with New Orleans Pelicans last season and he is now set to team up with Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton in The Bucks’ squad.
The Bucks recently agreed a trade with The Pelicans that will see them acquire Holiday in exchange for guards Eric Bledsoe and George Hill as well as three future first-round draft picks, with two future draft-pick swaps also included.
A move for Holiday represents the Bucks’ effort to support their talisman in view of bettering last season’s Eastern Conference semi-finals elimination against the Miami Heat, particularly with Antetokounmpo heading towards free agency in 2021.
The 30-year-old’s arrival teases the potential of a formidable trio alongside last season’s Defensive Player of the Year Antetokounmpo as well as Khris Middleton.
The Bucks had looked set to strengthen further this week by acquiring Sacramento Kings forward Bogdan Bogdanovic in a sign-and-trade that would have reportedly sent Donte DiVincenzo, Ersan Ilyasova, DJ Wilson and Justin James in the opposite direction.
That deal has since fallen through, however, with the Serbian now heading into the marketplace to find an offer sheet or another sign-and-trade situation.
Armstrong told Sky Sports’ Heatcheck: “They are a legitimate three because Giannis is a fantastic player, and what he does and what he brings he is a problem. I think Jrue Holiday and what position they decide to play him at is going to be critical to whether this experiment or trade is going to work.
“Meaning is he going to play exclusively at the one position? Or is he going to play the two position? I think Jrue Holiday, if he plays at the one position and he can provide the stability and all of the things he does on a night-to-night basis I think that is going to serve this team well.
“They need leadership at that position, and more importantly if there was a glaring weakness with the Milwaukee Bucks it was to have that second player who could create off the dribble when things kind of bogged down on their offense.
“I think Jrue Holiday has the size. I think he can take advantage of what he brings in the court, bump guys off and create offense when the offense isn’t working so you don’t have so much pressure on their premier player, their most dominant player Giannis.
“I think Jrue Holiday can provide this, so I really like the fix that they made with this team by adding Jrue Holiday with Khris Middleton and Giannis.”
