Days after one of the biggest trades of the NBA offseason, another All-Star is on the move.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Portland Trail Blazers have agreed to a deal to send point guard Jrue Holiday to the Boston Celtics. In return, the Trail Blazers will reportedly receive center Robert Williams, point guard Malcolm Brogdon, the Golden State Warriors’ first-round pick in 2024, and the Celtics’ unprotected first-round pick in 2029.
The trade comes just days after Portland first acquired Holiday in the blockbuster three-way trade that sent star point guard Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks. With the Trail Blazers rebuilding, the expectation was that they would ultimately trade Holiday, who was an All-Star selection in 2013 and 2023.
In heading to Boston, the 33-year-old Holiday will look to help elevate a Celtics team that was eliminated by the Miami Heat in seven games in the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals. Last season with Milwaukee, the UCLA product averaged 19.3 points on .479 percent shooting, 7.4 assists and 5.1 rebounds. The 2009 first-round pick was named to the NBA’s All-Defensive first-team for the third time in his career.
Shortly after the news of yet another blockbuster NBA trade, many took to social media to weigh in on the deal.
Bucks: Damian Lillard
Celtics: Jrue Holiday
Heat: pic.twitter.com/4KNs369FAS
— Underdog NBA (@Underdog__NBA) October 1, 2023
Celtics just became the NBA title favorites with the addition of Jrue Holiday.
Malcolm Brogdon didn’t want to be in Boston, and Robert Williams was unreliable.
Holiday is 33 and is still one of the better all-around point guards in the league.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) October 1, 2023
Celtics fans getting Porzingis and Jrue Holiday but losing Marcus Smart and Rob Williams pic.twitter.com/J9tXEgqR7T
— Boston Diehards (@Boston_Diehards) October 1, 2023
Brad Stevens going from Marcus Smart to Jrue Holiday pic.twitter.com/kUFj67R88Z
— BetOnline (@BetOnline_ag) October 1, 2023
There was a LOT of "Ha, let's see them get a good return on Jrue Holiday" from people peddling a guy who was absent when their team made a Finals run.
— Hardwood Paroxysm (@HPbasketball) October 1, 2023
From a Lakers perspective, obviously some people around the team who aren’t upset to see Jrue Holiday head to an East contender instead of a Western one https://t.co/m3X3FXmJua
— Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) October 1, 2023
Jrue Holiday walking back into the Bucks arena with a Celtics jersey on pic.twitter.com/2CXIG61OpG
— Josiah Johnson (@KingJosiah54) October 1, 2023
Damian Lillard to Milwaukee …
Jrue Holiday to Boston …
The upper crust of the Eastern Conference got infinitely more interesting this week.
More NBA from me: https://t.co/LGN9cVpeGP
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) October 1, 2023
The Celtics received the Warriors 1st round pick in the Marcus Smart trade.
So essentially, the Celtics traded Marcus Smart, Robert Williams & Malcolm Brogdon for Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis and Derek White is still here.
10/10 Deal. pic.twitter.com/cUaVnUEsUz
— Jim Murray (@bigjimmurray) October 1, 2023
