Justin Holiday
With the Chicago Bulls in full tank mode, one of the players to emerge as a strong two-way player is Justin Holiday. The 29 year-old is averaging career highs in points (12.5), rebounds (4.6), steals (1.7), 3-point attempts (7.7) and 3-point percentage (39.9) while playing 35.6 minutes per game (career high). He is on the final year of his two year, 9-million dollar contract he signed in 2017 free agency.
The Thunder are already loaded with wings with elite athleticism, length and speed but none of which can convert from the outside with consistency. Holiday is 6’6 and possesses a big 7’0 wingspan, a great combination to put alongside Paul George in OKC’s backcourt. Holiday fits OKC’s affinity for length and is an older copy of Hamidou Diallo, Terrance Ferguson and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot.
Best Overall Performance on 2018-19
The veteran’s best all-round performance came in Chicago’s 103-96 loss to the Miami Heat. Holiday posted 27 points (9-16 from the field, 5-10 from three and 4-4 on free throws), 13 rebounds, two assists, three steals and one block in 40 minutes of action.
Holiday showed his full range of skills shooting off the catch, shooting on the move and putting the ball on the floor to create a mid-range look or drive to the cup. Additionally, he is a decent pull-up shooter on the break and possesses a soft touch getting the roll when shots aren’t perfectly on target.
Unconscious 3-point shooter
Oklahoma City isn’t shy with letting the ball go from distance despite struggling mightily overall with the long ball. Holiday would fit right in with OKC’s willingness to let it fly. Despite only shooting 35.8 percent from deep over his seven year career, the 29 year-old has continued improvement from range. Holiday’s 3-point attempts have spiked considerably over the last two seasons, increasing from just 1.8 attempts in his initial five years to 6.5 attempts. He has the ability to get hot in a hurry and is a microwave scorer once he’s rolling.
Holiday was on fire in the Bulls 123-104 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. He finished the game with 20 points (7-12 shooting, 6-9 from three), three rebounds, four assists and three steals in 29 minutes. He torched the Bucks for 18 points in the first half.
The veteran has been on the block for an age and Chicago haven’t been quiet about wanting to move him for a younger player. Should Oklahoma City look his way, the Thunder won’t need to part with much to pick him up. Perhaps trading one of Abdel Nader or TLC could get the job done.
If I am the Thunder, I would be attempting to move Nader since TLC offers a little more on both sides of the ball with his length and athleticism. With Chicago embracing full tank mode, OKC would be wise to look at Holiday to add wing depth and a reliable outside shooter.