The Boston Celtics are buying and selling Jrue Holiday to the Portland Trail Blazers for Anfernee Simons and two second-round draft picks, sources advised ESPN on Monday night time.
Portland moved aggressively to reacquire Vacation, whom the franchise initially acquired from the Milwaukee Bucks within the Damian Lillard commerce in 2023 and later moved to Boston.
Simons joins Boston on an expiring contract, whereas Vacation is owed round $72 million in 2026-27 and 2027-28. The deal saves Boston $40 million in luxurious tax funds subsequent season, in keeping with ESPN’s Bobby Marks.
Portland receives Vacation again after buying and selling him to Boston two years in the past for Malcolm Brogdon, Robert Williams III, a 2024 first-round draft decide (that turned Bub Carrington) and a 2029 first-round draft decide. The unique bundle for Lillard included Vacation, Deandre Ayton, Toumani Camara, a first-round decide and two first-round decide swaps.
The transfer begins what is predicted to be an energetic offseason for the Celtics, who’re retooling their roster within the wake of Jayson Tatum‘s proper Achilles tear within the second spherical of the playoffs. They continue to be engaged in commerce talks surrounding a number of key gamers on the roster, sources mentioned.
Vacation earned All-Defensive group honors whereas taking pictures a career-high 42.9% from 3 within the 2023-24 season. He performed a vital position within the group’s run to the title that season, averaging 13.2 factors on 50-40-90 taking pictures splits.
Vacation, now heading into his seventeenth NBA season, brings championship expertise to a younger Path Blazers core. He may even assist Portland’s rising protection. From Jan. 19 onward, the Path Blazers had a 23-18 file and ranked third within the league in defensive ranking and efficient subject purpose share allowed in transition (58.2%), in keeping with ESPN Analysis.
In Simons, the Celtics get a 26-year-old scoring guard who’s comfy taking pictures from distance. Simons has averaged almost 9 3-point makes an attempt per recreation over his previous three seasons, a beneficial talent in Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla’s 3-pointer-heavy offense.