Shocking; Celtics Confirmed Major Blow After Parting Ways With Veteran Superstar Due To Increase In Salary Request
Jrue Holiday, a key piece in the Boston Celtics’ run to a record-breaking 18th NBA championship last season, is on his way back to the Portland Trail Blazers in a major roster shakeup that signals change in Boston.
According to a source familiar with the negotiations, the Celtics will send Holiday to Portland in exchange for guard Anfernee Simons and two second-round draft picks. Though the trade has not yet been made official, multiple reports confirm the agreement is in place.
Holiday, a six-time All-Defensive team selection, played a vital role for Boston during his lone season with the team. Acquired in October 2023 from the Trail Blazers just days after being dealt by the Milwaukee Bucks in the Damian Lillard blockbuster, Holiday immediately became a starter and defensive anchor, helping lead Boston to the NBA title.
In return, the Celtics are adding scoring talent in 25-year-old Anfernee Simons, who averaged 19.3 points per game last season and a career-high 22.6 the year before. While Simons offers offensive firepower, the team will undoubtedly feel the loss of Holiday’s defensive intensity and veteran leadership. Holiday’s scoring dipped to 11.1 points per game in 2024-25—his lowest since his rookie season—but his intangible impact remained significant.
Financial considerations were central to the trade. Holiday is owed $104.4 million over the next three seasons due to a recent contract extension, and with massive deals already in place for stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, the Celtics were facing an unsustainable financial outlook.
Boston’s payroll was projected to exceed $225 million next season, pushing the team into a staggering tax bill nearing $280 million. Altogether, the potential $500 million expenditure would have shattered league records. Moreover, it would have put Boston beyond the NBA’s luxury tax threshold and into the first and second “apron” penalty zones, restricting the team’s flexibility in trades and free agency.
The trade also comes amid uncertainty around Boston’s new ownership group, which is in the process of finalizing a $6.1 billion purchase of the team. The decision to move Holiday suggests a strategic pivot—one that prioritizes financial sustainability and roster flexibility over keeping last season’s core intact.
With this move, Boston appears to be preparing for a transitional season—balancing its championship legacy with the realities of a changing NBA landscape.
