Just a year after winning the NBA Championship, the Boston Celtics traded veteran guard Jrue Holiday.
The 2x NBA champions were traded to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for the Anfernee Simons and two two-round draft picks.
According to heavy sports Steve Bullpett, the Celtics are “offended” with the Celtics as they shipped him to the Western Conference.
“He’s not happy with this deal. If Portland doesn’t move him if possible, he doesn’t want to go there, which is surprising,” the source told Bullpet.
Not only Holiday, but Boston Celtics legendary Paul Piercing doesn’t seem to be too happy about this trade.
Holiday may have only spent two full seasons with the Celtics, but he has respect from both former players and fans.
After all, holidays played a key role in helping the Celtics end the 2024 16 Championship drought.
Losing a player of his pedigree is not a small deal. And it is clear from Paul Pierce’s reaction to trade in an episode of Fox Sports’ story.
“People saw this deal and said, ‘Hey, they got younger, they got some draft picks, they got 19 on average.” But I don’t see it that way,” Pierce said.
He added: “We lost a lot in this deal. We lost the champion, the leader in the locker room. We lost some of the DNA he brought to the Celtics. It was worth it.”
Pierce understands the biggest reason that a holiday traded with the Celtics is financial relief. After all, Simons is $4.8 million less than next season’s holiday.
“But I understand trade. Jrue has several more years left in his contract at a reduced price for his production. Anfernee has a year left,” the 2008 NBA champion added.
In modern times, it is difficult to put together a championship caliber roster without being subjected to huge taxes.
In fact, the main reason GM Brad Stevens pulled the trigger while on the move was to take the Celtics under the second apron for the 2025-26 NBA season.
Stevens achieved his goal after trading Christaps Porzingis for the Atlanta Hawks. These two deals will help C save $180 million on C’s tax penalties next season, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks.