Potential early Chicago Bulls buyout market targets: Justin Holiday
There would be much worse things that could happen to the Bulls this season than a potential reunion between Chicago and the sharpshooting two-way small forward Justin Holiday. While it looks like it is more realistic that Craig will be bought out by the Pacers than Holiday, this is still definitely a name to watch for the Bulls if he does come available on the buyout market soon.
Holiday is having a good run for the Pacers in the last few seasons. He’s averaged around 10 points per game, three rebounds, two assists, one steal, and 0.5 blocks in the last three seasons in Indy. And he’s a forward capable of shooting around 45 percent from the field and 40 percent from beyond the arc.
Just a few years ago, the Bulls were regularly giving Holiday starting minutes at the three. He could now be essentially a version of Craig on steroids. Holiday is a lengthier defender and a better shooter from the field and from deep. He’s also one of the craftier wings/forwards playing off-ball on both ends of the floor.
Similar to Craig, the Pacers have two years remaining on Holiday’s current contract. But Holiday’s contract also doesn’t pay him all that much in the way of average annual value (around $6 million through the end of next season).
If Holiday were to come available on the buyout market, I would imagine he would be one of the first players the Bulls would look into picking up down the stretch this season.