Disappointed to Join Portland Trail Blazers After Breakup with Boston Celtics
Ready, Set, Rewrite!
Jrue Holiday yearns for another swift Portland sojourn, apparently.
The former Celtic is steaming mad about ending up with the Trail Blazers following Boston's cost-cutting swap, as reported by long-standing Celtics reporter Steve Bulpett on Heavy.com yesterday.
Holiday had a brief four-day stint as a Trail Blazer after the Bucks dealt him, with the Celtics grabbing him in 2023.
"If he sticks around there, he'll likely be the class act he's always been and contribute positively," a source spilled to Bulpett. "But he ain't pleased with this deal. I reckon if Portland doesn't move him on if they can, he won't be up for it. His heart's set on elsewheres."
"I'm positive if he’s forced to Portland, he'll troop along and manage, but for the moment, he's angling for elsewhere," the source added. "But with that contract, it ain't gonna be breeze.
"I'm confident if he has to go to Portland, he'll end up going and it'll work out, but right now they hanker after something else. Yet with that contract, it’s not gonna be a piece of cake."
Holiday, 35, was instrumental in the Celtics bagging the 2024 championship, but the team's now upgrading after being a luxury tax team's second apron and also facing the realistic possibility that star Jayson Tatum could miss the entire season following his Achilles tear in the second-round playoff series loss to the Knicks.
Thus, Boston launched its reshuffle by shipping the much-respected vet to Portland, where he'll likely bring our needed experience and defense to a young team aiming to wrestle the Western Conference spotlight.
It's reasonable, of course, that Holiday would supposedly be irritated given he'll be 36 next season and surely desires to be on a guaranteed title contender as his career winds down.
Holiday notched two titles in the last five years, one each with the Celtics and Bucks, and is primed to kick off his 17th season in the league. The Trail Blazers, should he remain, will mark his fifth team.
The Western Conference, even if Portland advances, is a longshot to rise above a congested field including the reigning champion Thunder, a Rockets team employing Kevin Durant, the Nikola Jokic-led Nuggets, and the anticipated Lakers pairing of LeBron James and Luka Doncic.
Will the Trail Blazers stick with Holiday or deal him away again?
It's plausible that the Trail Blazers might eventually ship Holiday to a contender, just like they did in 2023 when they acquired him from the Bucks in the Damian Lillard trade, and then sent the point guard to the Celtics in exchange for two players and two first-round draft picks.
Whether the Trail Blazers decide to keep Holiday on their roster or trade him depends on factors such as team performance, roster needs, salary cap considerations, and Holiday's wishes.
In case you're curious, Sam Hauser and Anfernee Simons, picked up in the Holiday deal, could also join the roster shuffle, per ESPN.
What are your thoughts? Share your opinion!
Jrue Holiday might be discontented with the Trail Blazers as he wants to play for a title contender, considering his soon-to-be 36 age and past achievements in the NBA. Additionally, Holiday's potential participation in basketball games like NBA and sports could be impacted if the Trail Blazers decide to keep him or trade him further.
