The Celtics have begun their offseason moves by trading the two-time NBA champion, Jrue Holiday, to the Trail Blazers for Anfernee Simons and two second-round picks. This comes after the Celtics are reportedly looking to blow it all up and even listen to offers for their star players, Jaylen Brown and Derrick White.
NBA fans could not believe that the Celtics managed to convert a veteran player into a promising young star and also get two second-round picks in the process. They took to social media and expressed their opinions about the Celtics' trade with the Blazers.
"BROOOO WHY DO BOSTON ALWAYS GET THESE GOOD TRADES"
"Someone investigate how Boston keeps getting away with this sh**"
"WHY WOULD THE BLAZERS DO THIS?"
"The Celtics get a young potential star for an aging vet, are you kidding me?"
"THEY CAN'T KEEP GETTING AWAY WITH THIS"
However, not all fans felt that the Celtics got the better end of the deal. Some even believed that the Blazers managed to get a veteran defender in return for a player with shooting struggles.
"Celtics' downfall has begun."
"Gave up your elite defender for a point guard who can barely shoot."
"Blazers fleecing the Celtics lmaoooo what"
"FLEECED BY THE BLAZERS!!!!"
In my opinion, the Celtics got the better end of this deal. They got rid of Jrue Holiday's massive contract, where they could have been forced to pay him over $100 million over the next three seasons. Instead, they got a young star on an expiring contract who is owed only $27 million next season. The Celtics could tailor an extension with Simons that could be more financially feasible for them.
Moreover, Jrue Holiday is 35 years old, and his contributions to the team are limited to the defensive end of the floor. He averaged only 11.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.9 assists on the Celtics this season. The Trail Blazers had seven players who averaged scoring in double digits this season, but Simons was the closest to an All-Star leap as he led all scorers for them, averaging 19.7 points per game.
With Tatum expected to be sidelined all of next season, Simons could finally take that leap with the Celtics this season. While it is more of a win-now move for the Blazers as they look to provide some veteran experience to their young roster, the Celtics have a higher ceiling on what they could get out of Simons in the future.
This is not the first time Jrue Holiday has been traded to the Blazers. When Damian Lillard was traded to the Bucks, Jrue Holiday was sent in return to the Blazers. However, they re-routed him to the Celtics four days later as a part of a trade that brought Malcolm Brogdon, Robert Williams, and two future first-round picks to the Blazers.
It seems like the Blazers are following the blueprint that the Rockets used with Fred VanVleet. Blazers might just benefit a lot from this trade as well. It will be interesting to see how this trade turns out for both teams.
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