Shams: Celtics Trade Jrue Holiday to Portland for Anfernee Simons, Two Second-Round Picks

[cpower]

Stevens is a top-5 GM. Someone prove me wrong.

if i trade my 2nd hand bicycle for a brand new BMW, it does not make me the best trader of all time.. it just means that i am probably living in an alternative universe.

[iggymcfrack]

I mean, with this, they open up Scoot and Sharpenstarting, and you have a good defensive partner to pair with the each when one is on the bench.

I think Jrues demise has been overstated. Does he make too much? Yes. But in the role of a 20-25 MPG defensive stopper off the bench, how is he not perfect for that role? We just saw how much Caruso helped the Thunder, Holiday fits that same role, especially since they have two high usage guards who might not be able to exert as much on defense every possession. Separate the contract from the player. With this, Portland had to feel good about the mix of offense/defense from their guards in order to become a more well balanced team, instead of 3 guards all looking to score. You need those players like Holiday who can take a step back on offense for these high usage players and defend all game.

Jrue could be a valuable piece for a team like Denver or Minnesota that's maybe one player away from contending for a title next year. Portland had the 3rd worst SRS in the West this year and Jerami Grant at 30 was their only player over 27 years old. They should be looking toward the future, not trying to grab a declining vet in his 17th season. It makes absolutely no sense for Portland in particular.

Denver would have to trade away MPJ or Murray to match salaries. That would make me extremely sad. Holiday is on clear decline.

As a Nuggets fan, I'd love to trade MPJ for Jrue, especially if we could maybe get another depth piece in the deal. He's more consistent, balanced, and valuable in the near term.

[xb3at band1tx]

Yeah more I think about it, this feels like when the Warriors took a gap year and traded for DLO just to get something back and maybe recoup the player's value to get something else later down the line.

[Wolfgang630]

Why do teams love helping the Lakers and Celtics so much ffs

[CP War Hawks]

Boston couldn't have signed off fast enough knowing they couldn't lose on this deal no matter what happens lol. Is Ainge advising behind the scenes, I don't get it.

[iggymcfrack]

Very weird trade. Does BOS plan on starting White/Simons/Brown/Horford together? I mean, I assume they plan on dumping Porzingis now to actually get out of the 2nd apron?

As for POR, they must see this as an upgrade and want to try and make the playoffs? Is Jrue going to mentor Scoot?

Didn't save enough money and questionable upgrade. Very weird trade. Almost feels incomplete.

Horford's expiring. I doubt they re-sign him for their gap year when they're trying to dump salary.

[Wolves21]

I really don't think this is a bad deal at all for either team.Say what you want but clearly Portland want to try and fight for a lower playoff seed and while Holiday isn't the player he was a season or two ago is still a great defensive player and multi time champion that can help balance out there back court and in Portlands eyes can help them on the court and in the locker room.Giving up two 2nd really doesn't mean jack.

With Boston clearly as everyone knows they are trying to cut salary and Simons is just a one year rental probably at most. This isn't a win now move for them and highly suspect they'll tank this season. Simon is a terrible defender but someone that can get you buckets and came make you seem like your still trying to compete when clearly your not. Again I post this before but just wait until we find out that Brown has so called side effect and issues with his recent surgery and missing parts of next season if not all of it.

Celtics goal I think is to clear the books as much as possible around Brown/Tatum and tank this year to free up cap space for '26 and hopefully land a top pick to add to the group.Going into '26 with a healthy and returning Brown/Tatum along side another all-star type caliber player they signing in '26 and possibly a top five pick and be right back in the title contending mix in the East.

[Bologna Smasher]

Celtics looking for their next Isaiah Thomas.

Holiday will be a big veteran influence on their young guys, so I can understand it from the Blazers side... to an extent. Just don't think they needed to give up any picks in this deal.

[RookieStar]

The more I think about it I think he will be flipped somewhere else. Holiday will want to play on a contender, the question is who has space for him?

Houston?

JRuwe for FVV + fillers?

[Triple M]

Simons is a decent player but it might be an akward fit. I remember there was a game Scal was raving about him but how does he fit next to White, PP, Brown if he's chucking up shots

[Pattycakes]

Blazers fan who gets the deal for us. Simons is trash, fools gold. At least Jrue is either a good mentor, or a tradeable vet. I’m sure more moves are coming to make this make more sense.

[LakersSoul]

Read on Twitter

Portland gave up 26 yo for declining 35 yo with 3 more years on his contract AND added picks?

lol., oh what foolishness.

[Raps in 4]

Stevens is a top-5 GM. Someone prove me wrong.

Who's in your top 5

Top-2 for me are Presti and Pritchard. Beyond that I'm still a believer in Masai, Riley, and Ainge, despite recent stumbles, but I'd put Stevens ahead of them based on recent success.

Stone and Weltman have been pretty good recently too, but I need to watch them cook for a bit longer.

[iggymcfrack]

I really don't think this is a bad deal at all for either team.Say what you want but clearly Portland want to try and fight for a lower playoff seed and while Holiday isn't the player he was a season or two ago is still a great defensive player and multi time champion that can help balance out there back court and in Portlands eyes can help them on the court and in the locker room.Giving up two 2nd really doesn't mean jack.

With Boston clearly as everyone knows they are trying to cut salary and Simons is just a one year rental probably at most. This isn't a win now move for them and highly suspect they'll tank this season. Simon is a terrible defender but someone that can get you buckets and came make you seem like your still trying to compete when clearly your not. Again I post this before but just wait until we find out that Brown has so called side effect and issues with his recent surgery and missing parts of next season if not all of it.

Celtics goal I think is to clear the books as much as possible around Brown/Tatum and tank this year to free up cap space for '26 and hopefully land a top pick to add to the group.Going into '26 with a healthy and returning Brown/Tatum along side another all-star type caliber player they signing in '26 and possibly a top five pick and be right back in the title contending mix in the East.

Goal should be to clear the books around Tatum and White, and Pritchard. Brown's a declining player that can't really help an elite offense who's making $60MM/year.

[Rainwater]

He’s made some good deals, but then he’s made some trades like he’s just throwing a dart at a wall blindfolded. This would be one of those.

Quick question didn't you say Simons would not be traded and Portland was loyal to it's players?

Can you show me a quote where I said this, particularly in relation to Simons?

https://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=2414317&hilit=DusterBuster&start=120

There's zero fact to back this comment up. All indications from anyone close to the team is the Blazers have never seriously considered moving Simons.

The only time the Blazers considered moving him was pre the 2023 draft when they were "supposedly" looking to make a major trade to appease Dame Lillard before the trade demand. Outside of that, there's never been any serious rumblings that Cronin is looking to move Simons.

There was even a full team report from the Blazers beat writer that Cronin has been in contact with Simons to check if he wants to be moved, but Simons says he doesn't right now and Cronin therefore hasn't been shopping him. So yeah.... there's no evidence that comment is remotely true and plenty of evidence straight from the mouths of the GM and Simons that the opposite is.

Not wanting Simons or others is fine, but no need to make stuff up about it. It's fine to stick to reports and known facts.

I think you did change your tune but Simons being traded should have been a given once Scoot was drafted.

[GrandTheftRondo]

So Boston got younger, saved money and received picks...

but they lose a key defensive piece....look at what happened to the Bucks once they lost that elite defensive identity via the Lillard trade.

They’ve still got White.

Plus they’ve got another whole season to find some more defense.

Holiday at that price simply wasn’t realistic anymore with the second apron and Tatum sidelined.

[Capn'O]

feel like Portland should've gotten a FRP at least....good cheap trade for Boston but losing out on Jrue's defense is pretty big.

Simons sorta stinks. He is a shooter but does little else.

Doesn’t get to the line. Isn’t a PG. pushed around and plays soft. Per advanced stats he is a generationally bad defender.

Not saying I like Holiday as he is paid too much but Simons won’t be missed in Portland.

This might be a bit like the Rudy Gay trade for the Raptors. It's been pretty clear to me that Simons has needed a new home for awhile.

I still don't get why Portland didn't get draft compensation here.

[Capn'O]

Scoot gets his mentor. Literally the only angle I see for the Blazers.

And Sharpe. I think Holiday will be helpful for all the young Blazers.

[scottyno]

This league is so **** lame, seriously. Does Boston have sex tapes of Portland's GM or something?

They literally gave him away, and made a trade with absolutely no upside that makes no sense. So tired of big market teams getting richer.

They just can't handle small market teams going to the finals. If they are willing to block the Chris Paul trade, what is the difference here? This isn't a real trade.

The difference is the NBA doesn't own the Blazers..... that's the only reason that trade was blocked

[Capn'O]

Dame and pat for jrue and grant.

I kind of love it.