Boston Celtics Trade Jrue Holiday to Portland Trail Blazers for Anfernee Simons and Draft Picks

The Boston Celtics are trading veteran guard Jrue Holiday to the Portland Trail Blazers, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. In return, Boston will receive guard Anfernee Simons and two future second-round draft picks.

Holiday played a key role in the Celtics’ 2024 NBA championship run, contributing 11.1 points and 4.3 rebounds per game during the season. He joined Boston in 2023 via a trade from Portland, who had acquired him as part of the Damian Lillard deal with the Milwaukee Bucks. Holiday, however, never played a game for Portland prior to his initial move to the Celtics.

The 35-year-old guard has two years remaining on his current contract, including a $37.2 million player option for the third year. His departure is expected to save Boston approximately $4.7 million in salary next season and reduce the team’s position to $18 million over the league’s second luxury tax apron.

Charania reports that this transaction is likely the first of several for the Celtics, who are engaged in trade discussions involving multiple key players. The organization is focused on avoiding further financial penalties under the NBA’s new salary cap regulations, and additional roster adjustments are expected in the coming weeks.

Anfernee Simons, 25, heads to Boston after a productive seven-year stint with the Trail Blazers. Selected No. 24 overall in the 2018 NBA Draft out of IMG Academy, Simons averaged 19.3 points and 4.8 assists per game last season. He is entering the final year of a four-year, $100 million contract, a factor that enhances his appeal to the Celtics amid their cap management efforts.

The Celtics finished the 2024–25 season with a 61–21 record but are facing new challenges heading into next year. Star forward Jayson Tatum is expected to miss a significant portion of the upcoming season due to an Achilles injury. The team’s current strategy appears focused on maintaining competitiveness while reducing long-term financial commitments.

As for Portland, the addition of Jrue Holiday offers a seasoned veteran presence. Despite being near the end of his career, Holiday could play a pivotal role in mentoring the Trail Blazers’ young core. Whether Portland intends to keep Holiday this time remains unclear.

According to the source: The Economic Times.