There is a growing expectation that the New Orleans Pelicans will quickly sign Jrue Holiday to a five-year deal soon after the start of free agency.

New Orleans lacks the cap space to replace Holiday as they enter a pivotal season with DeMarcus Cousins a year out from free agency.

Holiday is said to have a strong bond with the Pelicans' organization with how they supported him when his wife underwent brain surgery to remove a benign tumor.

The Pelicans traded for Holiday in 2013 from the Philadelphia 76ers.

Jrue Holiday will meet with the New Orleans Pelicans when free agency begins on July 1st at midnight.

Holiday will take meetings in the first 48 hours of free agency if he's unable to agree upon a deal with the Pelicans.

The Pelicans can sign Holiday to a five-year deal while rival teams can only offer four years.

The Pelicans would only have $13 million in cap space to replace Holiday if he chooses to sign elsewhere, which gives him significant bargaining power.

The Chicago Bulls remain undecided on whether to retain Rajon Rondo at his $13.4 million salary or waive him for his $3 million guarantee before June 30th.

Chicago values Rondo for his ability still, as well as his mentoring ability, but the Bulls will need to find minutes for Kris Dunn and Cameron Payne next season.

Sources say the Bulls are considering waiving Rondo before trying to re-sign him at a lower salary.

Rondo is expected to draw interest from the New Orleans Pelicans and Indiana Pacers if he becomes a free agent.

The New Orleans Pelicans have traded Tim Frazier to the Washington Wizards for the No. 52 pick in the draft.

Frazier will give the Wizards needed depth at the point guard position.

Frazier signed a two-year, $4 million deal with the Pelicans last offseason.

The Dallas Mavericks are serious contenders to sign both Jrue Holiday and Justin Holiday in free agency.

The Holiday brothers have strong interest in playing together.

Jrue Holiday is coming off a four-year, $41 million extension he signed in 2012 with the Philadelphia 76ers. Holiday was traded to the New Orleans Pelicans in 2013.

Justin Holiday will be a free agent after appearing in all 82 games last season for the New York Knicks.

Chris Finch has been hired as an assistant coach on Alvin Gentry’s staff with the New Orleans Pelicans.

“I’m very excited to welcome Chris to the Pelicans organization,” said Head Coach Alvin Gentry. “He brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to our coaching staff, and will be an integral part of our program as we move forward.”  

Most recently, Finch served as an assistant coach with the Denver Nuggets during the 2016-17 season after spending five seasons on the Houston Rockets coaching staff. Prior to joining the Rockets in 2011, Finch served as the head coach of Houston’s NBA Development League affiliate, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, where he guided the team to consecutive appearances in the D-League Finals. In 2009-10, Finch was the recipient of the Dennis Johnson Coach of the Year Award en route to capturing the 2010 D-League championship.

Donatas Motiejunas has agreed to hire Octagon Sports as his representation.

Motiejunas was represented by B.J. Armstrong of Wasserman during his restricted free agency. Motiejunas signed an offer sheet with the Brooklyn Nets that was matched by the Houston Rockets but he then failed his physical.

Motiejunas eventually ended up with the New Orleans Pelicans.