JrueHoliday

Preseason question: With an unprecedented number of starting-caliber point guards on the Blazers’ roster, will Holiday become a trade deadline darling? It’s remarkable how still the archetypal modern defensive guard is: He’s still an efficient scorer who can toggle on- and off-ball responsibilities seamlessly; he’s still one of the smoothest lob throwers in the game; his defensive playmaking numbers may have gone down, but he’s still a brilliant tactician who can enhance the defensive amplitude of a lineup all by himself. But at 36 years old, Holiday could be the odd man out for the Blazers. He has stepped into something of a mentorship role in Portland, despite putting up numbers almost exactly in line with his career averages last season in the fewest minutes he’s played per game in a decade. Those numbers figure to decline sharply given his lot on this team, which also features Damian Lillard, Ja Morant, and Scoot Henderson. There are a number of contenders who can offer a more robust opportunity, knowing they’re a Jrue Holiday away from something special.