Celtics
The Celtics were reportedly going to get two second-round picks in the trade. Now, they'll just get Anfernee Simons.
Jrue Holiday AP Photo/Frank Franklin II
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#### NBA experts discussed the Celtics’ offseason following the Jrue Holiday trade
On Monday, the Blazers announced the completion of their trade with the Celtics involving Jrue Holiday.
The deal, which was reported on June 23, reportedly involved the Celtics sending Holiday to Portland in exchange for Anfernee Simons and a pair of second-round picks.
According to Portland’s announcement, the picks will not be involved in the deal. It’s a straight-up swap, Holiday for Simons, according to the release.
The Boston Globe’s Adam Himmelsbach reported that “new findings” during a review of Holiday’s medical examinations prompted the Blazers to alter the deal. Both sides agreed to complete the trade without the picks involved.
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Holiday, 35, is undergoing his usual offseason training regimen. He missed the last three games of the Celtics’ playoff series against Orlando with a hamstring strain, but was able to play in all six games of the Celtics’ second-round series against the Knicks.
Holiday played in 62 games last season, missing the other 20 with a variety of relatively minor injuries including mallet finger, a right shoulder impingement, and left-knee tendinopathy.
The two-time All-Star guard has three years left on the four-year, $134 million contract extension he signed last season. He is scheduled to make $32.4 million next season.
Dipping below the second apron luxury tax threshold was a priority for the Celtics this offseason. They were able to do that by trading Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis.
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Simons, 26, has averaged at least 19.3 points over the last three seasons in Portland. He’s a career 38-percent shooter from 3-point range.
He’s not the same caliber of defender that Holiday is, but he’s almost a decade younger and could be more of a scoring threat. He’s also on an expiring contract, which gives the Celtics flexibility in case they decide to move on from him after this season.
The Porzingis trade has also been completed. Boston sent Porzingis and a 2026 second-round pick to the Hawks in exchange for Georges Niang and a 2031 second-round pick.
Niang is a Massachusetts native. He grew up in Methuen and is the all-time leading scorer at Tilton School in New Hampshire. He joins a short list of players born in Massachusetts who ended up on a Celtics roster at some point in their careers.
“Anfernee is a really good young player who has continuously improved in his seven years in the NBA,” Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens said in a statement. “Georges is no stranger to Boston and has continuously been a winning player over the course of his career. We are excited to add both of them to the team,” said Stevens.
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Stevens expressed gratitude for Porzingis and Holiday’s contributions during the 2024 championship run.
“We are so thankful for KP and Jrue and the time we had together in Boston,” Stevens said. “They were great Celtics whose impact on our organization went well beyond the court. They were integral parts of two great teams, including one which brought us all a new banner. Their impact on this organization will last a long time, and we look forward to celebrating them when they return to the Garden this season.”
Profile image for Khari A. Thompson
Khari A. Thompson
Sports Reporter
Khari Thompson covers professional sports for Boston.com. Before joining the team in 2022, Khari covered college football for The Clarion Ledger in Jackson, Miss.
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