New Orleans Pelicans expected to retain Jrue Holiday with five-year deal

The New Orleans Pelicans are expected to retain point guard Jrue Holiday with a big-money contract once the NBA free agency period begins at 12:01 a.m. Saturday.

Holiday is expected to receive a five-year offer from the club for approximately $170 million in a meeting scheduled right as free agency begins.

The sides can agree to a deal at the meeting but a new contract doesn't become official until the signing moratorium is lifted at noon ET on July 6.

The Pelicans are making it a priority to keep the 27-year-old Holiday as he fits well with frontcourt stars Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins. New Orleans is looking to make the superstar duo work between the two All-Stars after acquiring Cousins late last season.

Holiday averaged 15.4 points and 7.3 assists in 67 games last season. He missed the first 12 games while his wife -- former women's national team soccer player Lauren Holiday -- battled through a brain-tumor situation.

The eight-year pro played his first four seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers before joining New Orleans for the past four campaigns. He has career averages of 14.3 points and 6.2 assists.