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

[Bucks4005]

I didn’t realize people likes Simmons so much. From what I could see, his defense is just atrocious. Like, what’s separating this guy from Jordan Poole? If the Celtics traded for Jordan Poole, people would wonder what the hell the Celtics were doing.

Like, hasnt Simmons been a tank commander for Portland for the last few years? I kept seeing “Simmons a near All Star.” Then why hasn’t Portland been better? Because that’s how flawed he is as a player with his defense. He just doesn’t play winning basketball. We will see how it translates when he gets a change of scenery, sometimes that can jumpstart peoples careers, but based on what he was in Portland, I think Jrue right now is clearly the better players and going forward, still will be the better player throughout his contract vs Simmons because Simmons defense has been that bad that Holiday at least projects as a function offensive player, especially in this role where he won’t be an offensive focal point.

For people wondering why Portland did this, they have a starting lineup going forward of

Henderson
Sharpe
Camara
Deni
Clingan

Like, they don’t need more young players. Their entire starting lineup has their young promising players to build around. Getting a vet like Holiday who actually plays winning basketball to also play defense, that’s a clear role they needed from one of their players off the bench, not another gunner like Simmons. I actually think Portland came out ahead in this in terms of actual players. People just see Holdiays salary and seem to go nuts. Like, every player on your roster is not going to be signed for market value. That just isn’t realistic.

[Bucks4005]

Another clear example of an overpaid player player still clearly having an impact. Fred Van Vleet. She. He was signed by the Rockets, people were going nuts about his deal. Yet, as the vet prescence on that team, but more importantly as a two way player, someone who has a career of playing tough defense and being ok, not great on offense, despite being overpaid he made a clear impact on changing the culture on Houston so that they were competing this year. When that deal was signed, people thought the Rockets were idiots and would suck for the next half decade. Yet, having a guard that actually gave a **** about defense was instrumental in Houston’s turnaround. I really think people are underestimating the impact of Holidays defense vs the sieve that is Simmons impact on taking that next step. Like, even if they are a 7/8 seed next year, to return to contention, that first step towards just getting to the playoffs has to come from somewhere.

[Im Coming Home]

Whys it feel like other GMs are just crawling over eachother to help the Celtics or the Lakers? Its so stupid.

[They_Them_Hatin]

Only on the internet are people crying over 2nd round picks. For every Jokic there’s like 20 a year that no one can ever name. Let it go! I think both teams got what they wanted. Ready to see Shaedon go off now that this chucker is off the team.

[Wallace_Wallace]

Jrue is still a great veteran presence. Portland is likely trying to trade him (again) for a playoff team who needs that. I’m gonna be honest, as one of the few teams who have cap space, I wouldn’t mind Detroit trading Harris/Fontecchio for Holiday as we need someone who can stabilize an offense beside Cunningham (preferably not Schroeder).

[sam_I_am]

I understand why people think Portland got robbed but I think this trade is less lopsided. Simons is not that good. He can score, but 6-3 200lb shooting guards forced to play PG are a dime a dozen. He doesn’t have great value around the league and is on an expiring contract so he walks at end of season.

Jrue is overpaid but Portland isn’t going to sign a max guy this year and have a roster of young players so they don’t really need financial flexibility. Jrue will be a valuable team leader and he is still a very good defender and a very smart offensive player who defines unselfish player.

I think both teams got what they desperately needed. Portland didn’t need to “win” this trade. They needed to get rid of Simons and they needed a veteran. They got a 2 time champ, a selfless teammate, a community leader and as good a role model as there is in NBA. He may be overpaid but he will produce for a couple of more years.

I see this as a win-win trade.

[HMFFL]

GM Joe Cronin desperately needs a winning season. 106-199 (34%) record as the Blazers GM.

I think Portland will keep Jrue to start the season.

Jrue Holiday
Shaedon Sharpe
Jerami Grant
Deni Avdija
Deandre Ayton

[MartyConlonOnTheRun]

Unless we're flipping him (again), I don't get this trade.

I think Portland is gonna flip jrue, again.

Like that is fine if you can absorb his salary and get young assets, but Jrue by himself is negative value and they gave up expiring and picks. If Jrue could be flipped for value, why didnt the Celtics just do it in the first place? Its not like Simons is a guy they want?

[Moose]

Only on the internet are people crying over 2nd round picks. For every Jokic there’s like 20 a year that no one can ever name. Let it go! I think both teams got what they wanted. Ready to see Shaedon go off now that this chucker is off the team.

Second round picks are more valuable now under this new CBA.

[Moose]

Whys it feel like other GMs are just crawling over eachother to help the Celtics or the Lakers? Its so stupid.

Maybe they get a kickback lol

[LuckyGreen7]

I get people's take on Simmons D. I'm not too concerned there when you have White and Brown who are excellent on D.

The fact is that with Tatum out, you want to do whatever you can to minimize tax without giving up White or Brown in your salary dump efforts.

Due to age and contract, Holiday had to go. Great player and person, but not going to be a key contributor anymore when Tatum gets back. Too old / expensive

The second choice for movement is probably Hauser. You dump him and hope the combination Scheierman and Walsh fill that void.

Lastly is KP. What they do there is largely dependent on what happens with Luke and Al. If Luke and Al come back, I see the Cs dumping KPs salary. If they don't, maybe they keep KP and hope for a good trade deadline deal.

Brad has two jobs to do: Minimize financial losses in 25-26 and build a contender again for 26-27 when Tatum is back as healthy as he will get. This move is a step in the right direction towards these goals.

[andalusian]

This is an interesting move for Portland, it's basically giving the offense to Deni and Shae and removing Portland's worst defender by far.

Having jrue as a mentor for Scoot is a nice additional benefit. I suspect we will see jrue around for a year in Portland until he is moved again the way they used brogdon.

The alternative is they keep him and use his salary with all the picks they have in 28 to go for a big trade

[Curmudgeon]

Terrible deal for the Celtics. They didn't save much money and got much worse on the floor. I can't believe a contending team wasn't willing to add Jrue for a decent package. He's a winner.

[Froob]

I didn’t realize people likes Simmons so much. From what I could see, his defense is just atrocious. Like, what’s separating this guy from Jordan Poole? If the Celtics traded for Jordan Poole, people would wonder what the hell the Celtics were doing.

Like, hasnt Simmons been a tank commander for Portland for the last few years? I kept seeing “Simmons a near All Star.” Then why hasn’t Portland been better? Because that’s how flawed he is as a player with his defense. He just doesn’t play winning basketball. We will see how it translates when he gets a change of scenery, sometimes that can jumpstart peoples careers, but based on what he was in Portland, I think Jrue right now is clearly the better players and going forward, still will be the better player throughout his contract vs Simmons because Simmons defense has been that bad that Holiday at least projects as a function offensive player, especially in this role where he won’t be an offensive focal point.

For people wondering why Portland did this, they have a starting lineup going forward of

Henderson
Sharpe
Camara
Deni
Clingan

Like, they don’t need more young players. Their entire starting lineup has their young promising players to build around. Getting a vet like Holiday who actually plays winning basketball to also play defense, that’s a clear role they needed from one of their players off the bench, not another gunner like Simmons. I actually think Portland came out ahead in this in terms of actual players. People just see Holdiays salary and seem to go nuts. Like, every player on your roster is not going to be signed for market value. That just isn’t realistic.

Guessing we possibly extend him and deal him at the deadline.

[hauntedcomputer]

Jrue retires rather than moving to Portland, making this the greatest two-way salary dump in history.

[Tor_Raps]

The blazers have the most expensive talent of guys who have no shot at being allstars. Imagine paying 100M to Jrue at age 35, Grant and Ayton...

[SkyBill40]

Now this is a move I don't understand outside of cutting salary. I can't imagine Holiday being happy about this, but I guess we'll see soon enough as to how it fully plays out.

Sent from my SM-F936U using RealGM mobile app

[MartyConlonOnTheRun]

Seems like a steal for Boston. Jrue is close to washed.

He's expensive, and he's relatively old, but he is no where near 'washed' can still defend anyone at the highest levels. He was injured before the playoffs this season and missed the start of the playoffs. He was the starting PG on what was probably the 2nd best team in the NBA this season.

Hard to tell if a player at that age was injured or declining. Lowest TS since his Pelicans days and with him being the 5th/6th option. Will always have a role with his defense, but we are talking 100+m over 3 years for that guy.

[They_Them_Hatin]

Only on the internet are people crying over 2nd round picks. For every Jokic there’s like 20 a year that no one can ever name. Let it go! I think both teams got what they wanted. Ready to see Shaedon go off now that this chucker is off the team.

Second round picks are more valuable now under this new CBA.

Then just sign some undrafted player or pay a few million and buy 1. It ain’t that deep the way yall carry on like there are exactly 60 players that enter the NBA draft every year and it’s outlawed to not sign someone that’s not drafted.

[FlyingArrow]

50+% of this board would a better GM than the Portland GM.