As the 2023 offseason winds down, the Boston Celtics have made a trade with the Portland Trail Blazers to acquire Jrue Holiday.
BREAKING: The Portland Trail Blazers are trading guard Jrue Holiday to the Boston Celtics, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/rOx1Hpwcpk
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 1, 2023
In the deal, the Celtics are sending Malcolm Brogdon, Robert Williams III, and two first-round draft picks to Portland for Holiday.
Holiday was recently traded to the Trail Blazers as a part of the monster three-team trade that sent Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks.
The 33-year-old is now reunited with his former assistant coach in Milwaukee, Charles Lee, who the Celtics hired this offseason.
This news comes just one week before the Celtics play their first preseason game of the year against the Philadelphia 76ers, Holiday’s first NBA team.
REPORT: Boston Celtics Trade for Jrue Holiday
What Does Jrue Holiday Bring to the Celtics?
Holiday has made a career so far as an elite perimeter defender. Additionally, Holiday is a career 16.4 PPG scorer and 34.6% three-point shooter.
With the Celtics priding themselves on two-way basketball, Holiday’s fit with the Celtics is obvious.
Acquiring Holiday is huge for the Celtics, as they needed to replace Marcus Smart.
Also, Holiday brings championship experience to Boston as he won a title with the Bucks in 2021. As it stands, Holiday is the only player on the Celtics with a championship.
It is unclear whether he will be a starter or sixth man like Brogdon was for the upcoming year. Either way, pairing him in the same backcourt with Derrick White is something Celtics fans can look forward to next season.
What’s Next for the Celtics?
By trading two players to acquire one, the Celtics now have one roster spot open again.
It is likely the team will look to acquire depth at the big man position with the loss of Williams III.
The Celtics traded for Kristaps Porzingis this offseason and still have Al Horford and Luke Kornet rostered. Additionally, the Celtics signed Neemias Queta to a two-way contract in September.
However, it is evident the team will need more immediate contributors at the position.
The Last Word
The Celtics got the ideal Smart replacement in Holiday. However, it is fair to say the team may have overpaid for him.
Although there were reports that Brogdon was unhappy in Boston, Celtics GM Brad Stevens put an end to that recently. Trading him after this all came out is interesting. That said, Brogdon’s injury history is clear, and it is likely the Celtics didn’t want to continue paying Brogdon’s large contract because of this.
As for trading Williams III, he proved to be an important piece to the Celtics’ young core. However, like Brogdon, his injury history is well known.
The 25-year-old only played in 35 games last season and started 20 of them. In the postseason, Williams III played in all 20 games but started just four of them.
Trading Williams III is a bold move from Stevens, since he was effective when he played. However, in order to get something, it is necessary to give up something, and “Time Lord” happened to be what the Celtics needed to give up.
In all, the Celtics should be happy they got Holiday. Not only is he the best player in the trade, but it prevents other rivals and contenders from acquiring him.
Only time will tell if the Celtics paid too much for him. That said, Holiday is the newest member of the Celtics and will hope to bring another banner to Boston.
