Three legitimate Jrue Holiday suitors emerged shortly after Damian Lillard’s trade to the Milwaukee Bucks went final.
Holiday, arguably the most versatile, respected (by superstars like Kevin Durant, no less) and reliable defensive player in the league, was sent to the Portland Trail Blazers along with Milwaukee’s 2029 unprotected first-round draft pick and unprotected Bucks swap rights in 2028 and 2030.
Portland made it clear in the aftermath that it would work on trading Holiday for more young assets. The most logical destination for the 33-year-old is a title contender.
Already, three have presented themselves as legit suitors.
The first is the Boston Celtics.
Not a big surprise, but I’ve been told the Celtics are expected to explore the possibility of trading for Jrue Holiday.
— Adam Himmelsbach (@AdamHimmelsbach) September 28, 2023
The Philadelphia 76ers, for whom Holiday suited up for between 2009 and 2013, are also in the running for his services according to NBA insider Kyle Neubeck.
The Sixers are interested in trying to acquire Jrue Holiday, per a source familiar with their thinking.
Will obviously be a robust market for him, but Philadelphia expected to see what it’ll take to re-route him.
Going to record a quick second pod with @DerekBodnerNBA shortly.
— Kyle Neubeck (@KyleNeubeck) September 27, 2023
Finally, don’t sleep on the Golden State Warriors. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst thinks they are a viable option for Holiday, too.
“Even the Golden State Warriors, who have interesting young players on their roster, plus a few far-out draft picks and swaps when Stephen Curry might be retired, could join the race,” he noted.
“Provided they’d be willing to re-trade Chris Paul, who members of the organization have praised for his offseason work of trying to fit in.”
Mallory Edens’ reaction to the Dame trade goes viral. https://t.co/RbqdtyV24g
— Game 7 (@game7__) September 28, 2023
Last season Holiday averaged 19.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 7.4 assists and made the All-Star team.
Since 2018 he has made the NBA All-Defensive First Team three times and the All-Defensive Second Team twice.
By any objective measure, Holiday will be a huge pickup for whoever nabs him. Though it really wouldn’t be all that shocking to see him stay in a Blazers uniform until the NBA Trade Deadline. Where will he end up when everything is said and done? Time will tell.
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Jennifer Withers Hoey is a former Business Development Manager who transitioned to writing about sports. With valuable connections all over the West Coast, she has used those contacts to break some of the most interesting stories pertaining to the Portland Trail Blazers, Oregon Ducks, LA Lakers, LA Clippers, Seattle Supersonics (RIP), and more.