The Portland Trail Blazers have finally traded NBA superstar Damian Lillard. As expected, they got a haul for him. In a three-team deal with the Phoenix Suns and the Milwaukee Bucks, the Blazers acquired Deandre Ayton, some draft capital, and Jrue Holiday. Jrue Holiday?
One of these things is not like the other. Ayton is a young player with some remaining upside. Portland had to get some draft capital. With that said, Holiday is a seasoned veteran. He’d be a useful player in any contender’s rotation. What’s he doing on a suddenly rebuilding team like the Blazers?
Well, in all likelihood, he’ll be re-routed shortly. The Blazers seemingly acquired Holiday to trade from quickly. From that point of view, the acquisition makes sense. Could the Boston Celtics be his final landing spot?
The Trade Proposal
Portland Trail Blazers Receive: G Malcolm Brogdon, F/C Al Horford, 2025 First-Round Pick (BOS)
Boston Celtics Receive: G Jrue Holiday
Lillard’s departure to the Milwaukee Bucks took the NBA world by surprise. This was not supposed to happen. By all accounts, Lillard was supposed to join the Miami Heat. That said, several other teams were more closely linked to Lillard than the Bucks.
The Toronto Raptors briefly looked like frontrunners. The Chicago Bulls seemed to take a look at Lillard, and so did the Orlando Magic. For that matter, even the Celtics seemed like a more reasonable landing spot for Lillard than the Bucks did.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Jrue Holiday, Portland Trail Blazers & Boston Celtics Updates
That’s a loss for every other team and a gain for the Bucks. After adding Lillard, they should resume their status as one of the best teams in the NBA. By contrast, the Blazers are at least a few years away from reaching a similar status. That’s exactly why they’re likely to look to move Holiday. Should the Celtics be interested in him?
Why The Boston Celtics Do The Deal
The Celtics are getting the best player in this deal by a long shot. In that sense, this deal justifies itself. Boston is a win-now team, and this is a win-now trade.
Granted, this deal doesn’t come without its risks. Losing Brogdon is inconsequential – the Celtics are directly upgrading him with Holiday. On the other hand, losing Horford is a blow. With Kristaps Porzingis and Robert Williams III both prone to injury, the Celtics could miss that frontcourt depth. On the other hand, planning for an injury is planning for failure. If the Celtics look at their roster and assume it will be available, they’ll see they need Holiday more than they need Brogdon and Horford.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Jrue Holiday, Portland Trail Blazers & Boston Celtics Updates
After all, he’s one of the best defensive guards in the entire NBA. Offensively, Holiday is a component playmaker and talented shot-creator. He may be prone to shooting slumps, but the well-spaced Celtics will live with them, given everything he brings. Should the Blazers give up such a useful player?
The Portland Trail Blazers Do The Deal
Don’t be surprised if Portland opts against tanking. We’re not convinced that this organization will be willing to lose intentionally. The Blazers already have an impressive group of young talent. If they’re ahead of schedule this summer, the small-market Blazers may not complain.
So, why trade Holiday? Well, most of that young talent resides in the backcourt. With Scoot Henderson, Shaedon Sharpe, and Anfernee Simons on the roster, there’s no room for Holiday. With that in mind, Portland could find a place for Horford in their rotation. As a combo big, he can back Deandre Ayton up and play alongside him for stretches.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Jrue Holiday, Portland Trail Blazers & Boston Celtics Updates
Still, Portland should be focused on the future above all else. This deal equips them with an unprotected first-round pick moving forward. Now, the goal will be to make the Henderson era more successful than the Lillard era.
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