The Boston Celtics are at it again, folks! They dealt veteran guard Jrue Holiday to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for up and coming star Anfernee Simons. This big move is just one of the Celtics’ bold offseason. Armed with the league’s worst proactive financial outlook, they are similarly focused on reshaping their roster and improving their outlook.
Anfernee Simons, a 26-year-old, undersized, high-volume scoring shooting guard with an elite deep shot fits that bill and would come on an expiring contract. Over the past three seasons, Simons has averaged nearly nine 3-point attempts per game, showcasing his ability to stretch defenses. His ease in taking the long ball from anywhere on the floor unchecks an amount of them from Boston’s backcourt bank account.
Jrue Holiday, who is entering his 17th NBA season, brings invaluable championship experience to the Trail Blazers’ young core. After being acquired from the Milwaukee Bucks in the Damian Lillard trade in 2023, Holiday played a pivotal role in helping the Trail Blazers secure a title that year. He averaged 13.2 points with shooting splits of 50-40-90 on that championship run. Last season, Holiday punctuated his resume by receiving All-Defensive team honors. He set a career-high by making 42.9% of his 3-pointers this season.
The fiscal impact of this deal would be enormous for Boston. Mind you, the Celtics just traded for Holiday, who will make approximately $72 million over the next two seasons. This move will save them an estimated $40 million in luxury tax payments next year. This is a shrewd move that lets Boston save not just on their own outgoing, but spend on winning the talent of tomorrow.
The Trail Blazers did well to move quickly and decisively to reclaim Holiday, knowing what he could bring to a potentially stellar roster. As the Blazers start trying to compete with their younger core, his championship pedigree and defensive skills will come in handy.
As this offseason rolls on, both franchises seem ready to turn the page toward exciting new chapters. The Celtics are focused on optimizing their roster while the Trail Blazers look to integrate Holiday’s experience into their ambitions for the coming seasons.
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