Celtics Trade for Former Bucks Guard Holiday in Deal with Portland

The Boston Celtics acquire Jrue Holiday from the Portland Trail Blazers in a trade deal, responding to the blockbuster NBA trade.

In a surprising turn of events, the Boston Celtics have responded to the blockbuster NBA trade that sent Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks by acquiring former Milwaukee guard Jrue Holiday from the Portland Trail Blazers. The trade deal, which took place on Sunday, October 1st, involved the Celtics sending guard Malcolm Brogdon, center Robert Williams, a 2024 first-round NBA Draft pick obtained from Golden State, and a 2029 first-round selection to the Trail Blazers in exchange for Holiday.

The Celtics took to social media to announce the trade, playfully stating, "The Holiday season came early this year. Welcome to Boston @Jrue_Holiday11." This move comes as a direct response to the Bucks' acquisition of superstar guard Lillard in a three-team deal with the Phoenix Suns, which resulted in the 33-year-old Holiday being sent to the Trail Blazers.

Holiday, a two-time NBA All-Star and five-time NBA All-Defensive Team selection, played a crucial role in Milwaukee's championship run in 2021, helping the Bucks secure their first NBA title in 50 years. Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens expressed his excitement about adding Holiday to the team, praising his competitive character and his impact both on and off the court throughout his career.

With the addition of Holiday, the Celtics aim to intensify the already heated competition in the Eastern Conference, particularly with the Bucks. Milwaukee's star player, Giannis Antetokounmpo, expressed his sadness at losing Holiday while acknowledging the acquisition of a top playmaker in Lillard. The Celtics' move is expected to further fuel tensions in the conference.

Holiday's contributions to the game extend beyond his on-court performance. He has been recognized for his sportsmanship and community charity efforts, winning awards such as the NBA's Teammate of the Year and the ESPY Sports Humanitarian Award. Last season, he averaged 19.3 points, 7.4 assists, a career-high 5.3 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game for the Bucks.

In Boston, Holiday is likely to assume the starting point guard role, previously held by Marcus Smart, who was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies in an off-season deal that also brought power forward Kristaps Porzingis to the Celtics. Combined with swingman Jaylen Brown and forward Jayson Tatum, who form one of the NBA's top-scoring duos, the Celtics will pose a formidable challenge to the Bucks in the East.

It's worth noting that Holiday and Tatum were teammates on the US gold medal-winning team at the Tokyo Olympics. The upcoming matchups between the Celtics and the Bucks are sure to be highly anticipated, with the Bucks visiting Boston on November 22nd and March 20th, and the Celtics playing in Milwaukee on January 11th and April 9th.

While the Celtics have made a significant move, other teams in the league are also making waves. Philadelphia, for instance, has yet to make a major off-season deal but still has guard James Harden, who has expressed his desire to be traded. The Sixers have been unable to find a suitable deal to accommodate his request. Additionally, the Trail Blazers have emerged as a key player in reshaping the balance of power in the Eastern Conference. In exchange for Lillard, they have acquired Deandre Ayton, Toumani Camara, Malcolm Brogdon, Robert Williams, three first-round NBA Draft picks, and swaps for better position on two other picks.

The NBA off-season has certainly been eventful, and fans can expect an exciting and competitive season ahead.