Why Celtics won’t receive Blazers’ picks in Holiday trade: Report originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
Two weeks after it was initially reported, the Boston Celtics’ trade of Jrue Holiday is finally official.
But the terms of the deal have changed — and not in a way that benefits Boston.
The Portland Trail Blazers announced Monday they’ve acquired Holiday from the Celtics in exchange for guard Anfernee Simons. Initial reports had Boston receiving Portland’s 2030 and 2031 second-round draft picks in addition to Simons, but the Celtics no longer will receive those selections. Instead, it’s a one-for-one player swap involving Holiday and Simons.
Why the altered deal? According to The Oregonian’s Aaron Fentress, the Blazers removed the picks after going over Holiday’s medical records.
“A recent review of Holiday’s medicals revealed nothing substantial enough to warrant the trade being negated. However, there was enough there to lead the Blazers to alter the terms of the deal slightly,” Fentress wrote, citing a league source.
Holiday dealt with a handful of minor injuries last season, including a “mallet finger” injury on his right pinkie and a right hamstring strain that sidelined him for three games in the first round of the playoffs. But the 35-year-old is still “considered to be healthy” and expected to be a full participant at Blazers training camp this fall, per Fentress.
While losing out on a pair of second-round picks isn’t ideal for Boston, the team still accomplished its primary goal of moving Holiday’s contract to trim salary. The Celtics saved an initial $4.7 million for the 2025-26 season by swapping Holiday for Simons, and can further cut costs by flipping Simons’ $27.7 expiring contract in an additional deal.
Boston’s trade of Kristaps Porzingis also was made official Monday, with the big man heading to the Atlanta Hawks and veteran forward Georges Niang joining the Celtics as part of a three-team deal.
Why Celtics will no longer get Blazers’ picks in Holiday trade: Report
Boston is getting a downgraded return in its deal with Portland.
Two weeks after it was initially reported, the Boston Celtics’ trade of Jrue Holiday is finally official.
But the terms of the deal have changed — and not in a way that benefits Boston.
The Portland Trail Blazers announced Monday they’ve acquired Holiday from the Celtics in exchange for guard Anfernee Simons. Initial reports had Boston receiving two second-round draft picks from Portland in addition to Simons, but the Celtics no longer will receive those selections. Instead, it’s a one-for-one player swap involving Holiday and Simons.
SIGN UP HERE Why the altered deal? According to The Oregonian’s Aaron Fentress, the Blazers removed the picks after going over Holiday’s medical records.
“A recent review of Holiday’s medicals revealed nothing substantial enough to warrant the trade being negated. However, there was enough there to lead the Blazers to alter the terms of the deal slightly,” Fentress wrote, citing a league source.
Holiday dealt with a handful of minor injuries last season, including a “mallet finger” injury on his right pinkie and a right hamstring strain that sidelined him for three games in the first round of the playoffs. But the 35-year-old is still “considered to be healthy” and expected to be a full participant at Blazers training camp this fall, per Fentress.
While losing out on a pair of second-round picks isn’t ideal for Boston, the team still accomplished its primary goal of moving Holiday’s contract to trim salary. The Celtics saved an initial $4.7 million for the 2025-26 season by swapping Holiday for Simons, and can further cut costs by flipping Simons’ $27.7 expiring contract in an additional deal.
