Bold Moves in BellevueNairda Iksworanjow - Whacko! SportsBELLEVUE, WA - As speculated
over the weekend by FSPN's Chaz Buick, the Bellevue Leprechauns cemented a deal on Monday evening that the organization hopes will be an important step towards eventually contending. In a risky and ambitious move, the Leprechauns have traded multiple draft picks, including the #8 pick in the upcoming draft and their own unprotected 2016 1st, for point guard Jrue Holiday and forward Khris Middleton.
The 24 year old Holiday has been limited by injuries the past two seasons, but is just two years removed from an all-star appearance (38.5fp) and has remained an elite-level player in the games he's played... averaging 15 points, 7 assists, 4 rebounds, 1.6 steals with 45%/38%/86% shooting last season (35.3fp). Reports indicate that Holiday will be ready to lead the young Leprechauns at the start of the season and is excited about growing with the established young core that includes Wiggins, Gilchrist and Noel. Leprechauns GM, LarBrd33, had discussions centered on Holiday last year, but opted to let the season play out (likely with hopes of bottoming out for a top 2 pick).
The 23 year old Khris Middleton has made noise the past two seasons as an exceptional "three and D" talent. The young three-position (SG, SF, PF) player is coming off a season averaging 13.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.5 steals with outstanding 47%/41%/86% shooting (27fp in 30mpg). The Leprechauns believe the young player to be a "sleeper star" who is just scratching the surface of his long-term potential and note his performance in the second half the season where he upped his scoring average to 17 points (32.6fp) as he lead his team to the playoffs during the final three months of the season.
Sources indicate that plummeting ticket prices last year were a primary motivation for the move. While the team cherished it's draft picks, it felt pressure to add genuine talent. Moving the 2016 1st may ultimately cost the team. On BellevueBlog, many disappointed fans expressed their frustration by calling the move "risky" and suggesting that the team could have given up an opportunity to land a genuine superstar or two by moving the future 1st. LarBrd33 has released a brief statement: "We're thrilled about this trade. Fans should be as excited as we are. We see Chris and Drew as two young stars with a bright future in Bellevue. Drew is an all-star talent. Chris is on the verge of being a special player in this league and we feel he will flourish in his new role next season. Between our returning injured players and top two draft picks, we have a lot of young talent joining this team next year. We're very excited about where this is headed. We ask you to
Believe in Bellevue."