The Boston Celtics came into this season being picked by plenty of people to repeat as NBA champions. But instead of enjoying another parade, they were paraded out of the second round of the playoffs by the New York Knicks.
Regardless, there was a feeling that significant moves were coming for them this offseason due to the NBA's ultra-restrictive salary cap and their overall salary situation. Sure enough, on Monday, they reportedly agreed to trade point guard Jrue Holiday to the Portland Trail Blazers for shooting guard Anfernee Simons and two second-round draft picks.
ESPN's Shams Charania broke the news on X.
Fans had a range of reactions to the news.
"Why the blazers do this?" one fan asked.
"celtics downfall has begun," another user wrote.
"CELTICS FLEECED OMG," a third user wrote.
"FLEECED BY THE BLAZERS!!!!" another fan wrote.
"Wow!" a fifth user wrote. "The Celtics get good.value but losing his vet presence will hurt"
"BROOOO WHY DO BOSTON ALWAYS GET THESE GOOD TRADES," another user asked.
Holiday, 35, had spent his first 14 seasons in the NBA with the Philadelphia 76ers, New Orleans Pelicans and Milwaukee Bucks while making two All-Star teams before joining the Celtics prior to last season.
Interestingly, he was already a member of the Trail Blazers for a few days two summers ago. The Bucks sent him there in the deal that brought them Damian Lillard before Portland shipped him to Boston for Malcolm Brogdon, Robert Williams III and two first-round draft picks.
Jrue Holiday, Stephen Curry
Jan 20, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Boston Celtics guard Jrue Holiday (4) dribbles past Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) in the first quarter at the Chase Center.
© Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images
As one of the NBA's best defensive guards, Holiday played a key role in Boston winning it all a year ago. The team will now receive a promising young player in Simons, who averaged 19.3 points and 4.8 assists a game this season but shot 42.6% from the field.
Holiday agreed to a four-year, $135 million contract extension last April and will make $32.4 million next season. As part of the $100 million contract he agreed to in 2022, Simons will be paid $25.9 million next season.