Stefanski considered trading up to get Holiday

Surprising everyone on Thursday, the Philadephia 76ers drafted UCLA freshman Jrue Holiday as their point guard of the future with the 17th overall pick.

GM Ed Stefanski said that the Sixers were considering trading up to get Holiday.  Instead, the player who canceled his workout with the team because his camp expected him to go in the top ten fell to them at 17.

“I wish I could have gone higher,” Holiday said. “I don’t really feel there are 16 players better than me, but I think I fell in the right place. … Honestly, it’s motivation to get better.”

In high school, Holiday was named the Gatorade National Player of the Year.  But he underwhelmed in his single collegiate season at UCLA.

Stefanski attributes his performance last year to the fact that he played out of position at the two guard (UCLA had All-American Darren Collison at the point) and UCLA’s grind-it-out tempo.

In addition to transitioning back to his natural position and an up-tempo offense in Philly, Holiday refers to himself as a “defensive stopper.”  Stefanski says, “He plays defense. If you want to get on the court and you want to impress your coach, defense is the way to do it.”

Terry Kelly, Holiday’s high school coach, says that, “He’ll become a fan favorite because he’s blue-collar, not flashy. He’s more about substance and quality. The thing he cares the most about is winning. When he is given the reins to a team, he’s more than capable. He’s as humble and as authentic as they come.”

The Sixers were targeting a specific player in the second round of the draft.  According to the Philadadelphia Daily News, that player was Kentucky shooting guard Jodie Meeks.

Holiday will join Marreese Speights, last-year’s first-round pick, at the Orlando Rookie League (July 6-10).

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