Jrue Holiday has seen a massive change in scenery this offseason, having been moved from a championship side in Boston to a developing Western Conference team in Portland.
While the Celtics initiated this trade as a means of shedding salary, an ongoing effort in coming below the second luxury tax apron, it was made apparent that Holiday was unhappy with this trade.
At 35 years old, Holiday remains a solid two-way player and a reliable offensive option. A team like the Trail Blazers, who have been languishing in the lower rungs of the West, may not be an appropriate spot for the two-time NBA champion.
As unfortunate as the situation may be for Holiday, there remains some scope to join a contender. With this in mind, we explore some potential trades for the veteran to facilitate a move out of Portland.
Los Angeles Lakers
Among the several teams who could benefit from adding a talented veteran like Holiday, the Los Angeles Lakers certainly top the bill. Although the team will remain focused on their need to acquire a big man, the addition of Holiday could be on the cards purely to boost their backcourt rotation.
Proposed Trade Details
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Jrue Holiday
Portland Trail Blazers Receive: Dorian Finney-Smith, Gabe Vincent, Shake Milton, 2028 first-round pick
Holiday’s addition fits the template the Lakers have set for success. The importance of a primary defensive force, especially in the backcourt, is critical. Considering that each of the championship teams in the last five years has had a lockdown defender in their rotation, the Purple and Gold would do well to approach this trade with intent.
Holiday’s averages of 11.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.9 assists prove to be quite beneficial, especially if he’s placed in the starting rotation next to Luka Doncic. Considering the amount of flak the Slovenian has received for his poor defensive effort, Holiday’s addition would be crucial in compensating for these shortcomings.
The Lakers are likely to see a major change to their organizational approach. With the team seeing a change in ownership, Los Angeles also has a lot of financial backing at their disposal. This purchasing power would be immensely helpful in allowing the team to make key roster upgrades.
The Blazers don’t gain much from this deal other than expiring contracts and a first-round pick. Although the trade doesn’t make them better by any means, the addition of veterans like Dorian Finney-Smith and Gabe Vincent improves their overall roster integrity.
Los Angeles Clippers
Before being traded from the Celtics, Holiday had garnered some interest from the Los Angeles Clippers as well. Considering that the team features a solid superstar duo in Kawhi Leonard and James Harden, the Clippers are simply one piece away from being a bona fide title contender, and Holiday could be the answer.
Proposed Trade Details
Los Angeles Clippers Receive: Jrue Holiday
Portland Trail Blazers Receive: Kris Dunn, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Derrick Jones Jr., 2027 second-round pick
A trade for Holiday will require the Clippers to give up some key rotational players, but what they get in return may be far more worthwhile. Even at 35 years old, Holiday is a legitimate threat on the defensive end, while also being a capable three-point shooter.
With Harden running point, the team is in dire need of defensive players on the ball other than Leonard. Holiday fits this role perfectly. With a trio of Holiday, Leonard, and Powell guarding the Clippers’ perimeter, LA could potentially be one of the best teams in the league when it comes to guarding the three-point line.
The Blazers get more value out of this deal than the one with the Lakers. Kris Dunn showed great value last season, averaging 6.4 points and 3.4 rebounds as the primary point of attack defender for the team.
Bogdan Bogdanovic remains a reliable scoring threat. His averages of 10.8 points on shooting splits of 42.7% from the field and 36.3% from three-point range are promising for a team like Portland.
Additionally, a high-flying athlete like Derrick Jones Jr. is always a benefit to any team’s bench, with an average of 10.1 points and 3.4 rebounds per game. His experience of playing with the Trail Blazers in the past will also be valuable.
The second-round pick may have little value in this proposal. But it could be worthwhile for Portland if they opt to utilize it as a trade chip in the future.
Dallas Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks are a team on the verge of becoming a superpower in the West. With the opportunity to draft a potential superstar in Cooper Flagg in less than 24 hours, Dallas are primed for success.
Unfortunately, the lack of a primary point guard for a large part of the regular season may see the team in a difficult spot unless they make the right trades.
Proposed Trade Details
Dallas Mavericks Receive: Jrue Holiday
Portland Trail Blazers Receive: Klay Thompson, PJ Washington, Brandon Williams, 2030 second-round (PHI)
The Mavs are due to be majorly short-staffed in the backcourt to start out the next season. With Kyrie Irving sidelined till January while recovering from injury, the team is in need of playmaker and distributor who can also defend.
Holiday appears to be the perfect addition in this regard. When considering Dallas’ interest in the guard prior to the trade, the Mavs could very well still make a play to acquire him and bolster their roster.
A trade for Holiday will see Dallas offload some contracts, however. Klay Thompson and PJ Washington will be the significant ones in this deal.
Thompson had a solid season, recording an average of 14.0 points and 3.4 rebounds on 39.2% shooting from beyond the arc. Still viewed as a perimeter threat, the four-time champion could remain a significant contributor on a team like the Blazers.
Similarly, Portland may have use for a versatile forward like Washington. With effectively no backup for Jerami Grant, the Blazers would do well to acquire a similar player to come off the bench. His averages of 14.7 points and 7.8 rebounds would prove to be promising in this context.
The addition of Brandon Williams and the 2030 second-rounder are an effort to make the deal more appealing to Portland. With Washington also being an expiring contract, the Trail Blazers may show an interest in following through.
Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns are in the process of retooling their roster. Having made significant personnel changes by trading Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets, the Suns are now in need of a legitimate point guard.
Proposed Trade Details
Phoenix Suns Receive: Jrue Holiday
Portland Trail Blazers Receive: Dillon Brooks, Royce O’Neale, 2027 first-round pick (via UTA, CLE, or MIN)
Phoenix’s efforts in the offseason require them to come below the second luxury tax apron. Given the restrictions placed upon them, the Suns will look to offload other contracts, with a primary emphasis on trading or buying out Bradley Beal.
In this effort, the Suns’ backcourt will be completely devoid of playmakers or defenders, featuring only Devin Booker and Jalen Green. The addition of Holiday would give the roster some semblance of balance, at least in the backcourt. While it doesn’t signal the end to their roster-building efforts, it would be a vital piece of the puzzle.
Meanwhile, Portland would acquire a key draft asset with the 2027 first-round pick along with two veteran defenders. Both have shown their capability in locking down defensively while also knocking down shots from distance. O’Neale’s three-point shooting average of 40.6% and Brooks‘ three-point shooting average of 39.7% are very promising.
Should The Blazers Trade Holiday?
The situation is certainly complicated, especially with Holiday expressing his frustrations with being traded. While the initial approach would be to trade the guard, the Blazers may actually opt to retain him, which could be to their benefit.
Holiday is a solid veteran guard who could be a key addition to the team’s efforts at improving. While they are unlikely to even be a Play-In team in the West, under Holiday’s mentoring, players such as Shaedon Sharpe and Scoot Henderson could develop into significantly better players, creating a much better outlook for the team’s future.
