On Sunday, the Portland Trail Blazers increased the Eastern Conference arms race by trading All-Star player Jrue Holiday to the Boston Celtics.
According to the Celtics, the deal includes guard Malcolm Brogdon and center Robert Williams III. According to insiders, the Blazers will also receive a first-round pick in 2024 from Golden State and a first-round pick in 2029.
Following the blockbuster trade of Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday, which netted them Holiday, the Trail Blazers are stockpiling assets in preparation for the weekend transfer of Holiday to the team with the best offer.
With Holiday’s impending free agency in the summer of 2024, the Celtics, who were an aggressive suitor for the 33-year-old, are anticipated to attempt to secure his long-term contract. The addition of Holiday may make the Celtics the preseason favorite in the Eastern Conference, surpassing the Bucks.
Holiday is regarded as one of the top two-way guards in the game, and the Bucks’ 2021 NBA title was greatly influenced by his signing with the team. After the greatest break in NBA history—nine years—between appearances, Holiday was named to the Eastern Conference All-Star squad in 2023.
Williams is expected to be kept by the Blazers so that he can play with new center Deandre Ayton, but insiders claim that Brogdon will likely be involved in further trade discussions once he gets to Portland. Brogdon will begin the season with Portland if there isn’t another trade. Scoot Henderson, the third overall pick, Shaedon Sharpe, the first-round pick in 2022, and Anfernee Simons, who received a $100 million extension last summer, are among the young guards the Blazers are devoted to.
Ayton, Williams, Brogdon, and first-round picks in 2024 (through Golden State, protected 1-4), 2029 (Milwaukee unprotected), and 2029 (Boston unprotected) are all valuable assets for the Blazers, even without a hypothetical Brogdon trade. Additionally, the Bucks and Blazers will exchange picks in 2028 and 2030.