Griz get Bulls guard Holiday for 2 players, picks
The Memphis Grizzlies have acquired Chicago Bulls forward Justin Holiday for two players and two future second-round draft picks, the teams announced Thursday night.
The Grizzlies sent the Bulls their 2019 and 2020 second-round picks, along with forward Wayne Selden and guard MarShon Brooks.
The Bulls also waived guard Cameron Payne, who was in his third season in Chicago.
Memphis believed it had a deal including Brooks and Selden for Kelly Oubre Jr. in early December, but that deal fall apart when the Phoenix Suns were under the impression they were receiving Memphis’ Dillon Brooks as part of a three-way deal.
Memphis has struggled lately and coveted the athletic playmaking ability of Holiday, who is averaging 11.6 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 35 minutes per game.
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Grizzlies general manager Chris Wallace apologized to the team’s fans on Thursday for an apparent altercation between players following Memphis’ latest loss.
Holiday is on an expiring contract and could be moved again before the Feb. 7 trade deadline as long as his contract is not aggregated with another player. However, by giving up the two second-round picks, it would seem Memphis’ intent is to re-sign Holiday this summer.
The Grizzlies remain $463,000 under the luxury tax with the $4.4 million addition of Holiday.
The Bulls are in a dealmaking mode, shopping center Robin Lopez and forward Jabari Parker in trade talks, sources said.
Payne, 24, has struggled to stay healthy and find traction in the league since the Oklahoma City Thunder selected him 14th overall in the 2015 NBA draft. He averaged 6.7 points, 2.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 18.8 minutes per game over three seasons with the Bulls.
ESPN front office Insider Bobby Marks contributed to this report.