Jrue Holiday has officially been traded to the Atlanta Hawks. This decision represents a new chapter in an enriching career largely defined by his transformative, albeit short-lived experience with the Boston Celtics. Aside from what the trade does on the court, it gives Holiday a fresh start with a new team. It frees up Boston roughly $40 million in luxury tax payments for the 2023 season. This deal is a clear reaffirmation of the insidious game of chess that remains omnipresent in the NBA as teams shuffle their resources and rosters around.
Boston initially traded for Holiday from the Portland Trail Blazers. He was the engine for Boston’s magical season, leading the team to the 2024 NBA championship. He spent just one season with the Celtics, where he had the most lasting impact. During his 389 game career (213 starts), he averaged 15.0 points, 3.3 assists and 2.5 rebounds. He’s shooting a career-high 42.9 percent from deep on 6.3 attempts per game. His spectacular play on defense is what made him an All-Defensive Team selection in his first year with the team.
Holiday’s NBA story, of course, began in 2009. Basketball career With the 17th overall pick of the 2013 NBA Draft, the Philadelphia 76ers selected him. Over the course of his career, he’s proven himself to be a multi-faceted player. He has had a stellar season with averages of 15.8 points, 6.2 assists, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.4 steals. He accomplished this incredible efficiency over 1,037 games with the 76ers, New Orleans Pelicans, Milwaukee Bucks, and Celtics.
In 2021, Holiday won his first NBA championship with the Milwaukee Bucks. This victory solidified his status as one of the true elite players in his era. He is a six-time All-Defensive Team selection, a testament to his defensive prowess over the years. Whether on the Warriors, the Celtics, or the team that selected him 57th overall—his scoring and high-level defense have made him a super valuable player.
The deal to Atlanta is a strong signal of the Hawks’ intent on shoring up their roster for a deeper playoff run. Holiday is set to make $32.4 million next season. He’s owed only about $72 million over the next two seasons, making him one of the league’s most valuable investments.
Portland just recently traded for Holiday from Milwaukee. This trade was made possible after the team traded their star player, Damian Lillard, earlier this offseason. The Trail Blazers then flipped Holiday to Boston for a pair of first-round picks, largely to replenish their war chest.
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