Stevens addresses Holiday and Porzingis trades in statement originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
On Monday, the Boston Celtics officially bid farewell to 2024 NBA champions Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis.
Holiday was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for Anfernee Simons. Initial reports had Boston also acquiring two second-round draft picks in the deal, but according to The Oregonian’s Aaron Fentress, the Blazers removed the picks from the trade after going over Holiday’s medical records.
The Celtics sent Porzingis and a 2026 second-rounder to the Atlanta Hawks for Georges Niang and a 2031 second-rounder. Boston made the franchise-altering moves as part of its effort to get under the second apron of the luxury tax.
As part of Monday’s announcement, Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens released a statement on Holiday and Porzingis’ impact since joining the team in 2023.
“We are so thankful for KP and Jrue and the time we had together in Boston,” Stevens said. “They were great Celtics whose impact on our organization went well beyond the court. They were integral parts of two great teams, including one which brought us all a new banner. Their impact on this organization will last a long time, and we look forward to celebrating them when they return to the Garden this season.”
In his debut season with Boston, Holiday earned his sixth career All-Defensive nod while helping the C’s bring Banner 18 to TD Garden. The two-time NBA champion averaged 11.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.1 steals per game over two seasons with the Celtics.
Porzingis battled injuries throughout his two-year Celtics tenure, but he played a critical role in the team’s success. “The Unicorn” averaged 19.8 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game in Boston, and he set the tone in the 2024 NBA Finals with a sensational Game 1 performance against the Dallas Mavericks.
Stevens also shared a brief statement on the Celtics’ acquisitions, Simons and Niang.
“Anfernee is a really good young player who has continuously improved in his seven years in the NBA,” Stevens said. “Georges is no stranger to Boston and has continuously been a winning player over the course of his career. We are excited to add both of them to the team,” said Stevens.
Simons averaged 19.3 points per game in 70 games for the Blazers last season and has shot 38.1 percent from beyond the 3-point arc for his career. Niang, a Massachusetts native, averaged 9.9 points and 3.4 rebounds per game last season with the Hawks and Cleveland Cavaliers.
With the Celtics still slightly above the second apron, more moves are likely to be made this summer. Simons and Niang are not locks to be on the 2025-26 roster with $27.7 million and $8.2 million salaries, respectively.
Stevens addresses Holiday and Porzingis trades in statement
The Celtics made the Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis trades official on Monday.
On Monday, the Boston Celtics officially bid farewell to 2024 NBA champions Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis.
Holiday was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for Anfernee Simons. Initial reports had Boston also acquiring two second-round draft picks in the deal, but according to The Oregonian’s Aaron Fentress, the Blazers removed the picks from the trade after going over Holiday’s medical records.
The Celtics sent Porzingis and a 2026 second-rounder to the Atlanta Hawks for Georges Niang and a 2031 second-rounder. Boston made the franchise-altering moves as part of its effort to get under the second apron of the luxury tax.
SIGN UP HERE As part of Monday’s announcement, Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens released a statement on Holiday and Porzingis’ impact since joining the team in 2023.
“We are so thankful for KP and Jrue and the time we had together in Boston,” Stevens said. “They were great Celtics whose impact on our organization went well beyond the court. They were integral parts of two great teams, including one which brought us all a new banner. Their impact on this organization will last a long time, and we look forward to celebrating them when they return to the Garden this season.”
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In his debut season with Boston, Holiday earned his sixth career All-Defensive nod while helping the C’s bring Banner 18 to TD Garden. The two-time NBA champion averaged 11.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.1 steals per game over two seasons with the Celtics.
Porzingis battled injuries throughout his two-year Celtics tenure, but he played a critical role in the team’s success. “The Unicorn” averaged 19.8 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game in Boston, and he set the tone in the 2024 NBA Finals with a sensational Game 1 performance against the Dallas Mavericks.
Stevens also shared a brief statement on the Celtics’ acquisitions, Simons and Niang.
“Anfernee is a really good young player who has continuously improved in his seven years in the NBA,” Stevens said. “Georges is no stranger to Boston and has continuously been a winning player over the course of his career. We are excited to add both of them to the team,” said Stevens.
Simons averaged 19.3 points per game in 70 games for the Blazers last season and has shot 38.1 percent from beyond the 3-point arc for his career. Niang, a Massachusetts native, averaged 9.9 points and 3.4 rebounds per game last season with the Hawks and Cleveland Cavaliers.
With the Celtics still slightly above the second apron, more moves are likely to be made this summer. Simons and Niang are not locks to be on the 2025-26 roster with $27.7 million and $8.2 million salaries, respectively.
