More rumbles about the Boston Celtics having an interest in trading for now-Portland Trail Blazers veteran point guard Jrue Holiday — and possibly dealing the NBA’s 2023 Sixth Man of the Year Malcolm Brogdon whether or not such a Holiday trade materializes — has been percolating up this Friday morning via The Athletic NBA insider Jared Weiss.
Per Weiss, the “price for Holiday likely starts at two first-round picks, but several teams in the mix have the means and motivation to go beyond that.” That milieu of ball clubs of course includes the Celtics, but also the Los Angeles Clippers — a team Boston has also been linked to this offseason via trade rumors.
Buy Celtics TicketsWith Los Angeles also in the hunt for Holiday, the ask could get quite steep, unless of course Boston gets involved in another way.
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“The LA Clippers are reportedly in the hunt for the defensive stalwart, but they have continued to engage the Celtics in trade talks for Brogdon throughout the offseason,” relates The Athletic reporter.
“After a deal surrounding Brogdon and Kristaps Porzingis fell just short of the finish line in June, the organization has worked to repair the relationship with the Sixth Man of the Year while continuing to explore trade options in case that bridge is too singed to be repaired.”
Does this mean the Brogdon era in Boston is coming to a close regardless? Or is the Virginia alum committed to professionalism to a degree that his personal feelings about his tenure with the Celtics has gone that such a move is not now a foregone conclusion?
With the Celtics now reportedly interested in Holiday and the sentiment mutual, The Athletic’s John Hollinger concocted an improbable — but CBA legal — trade proposal to land the … https://t.co/ijXUnympNg
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) September 29, 2023
Perhaps more importantly for Boston’s title pursuit, is there a deal out there with or without the help of the Clips that could get Holiday to the Celtics, one of his reported preferred destinations?
“The Clippers need a capable point guard as the James Harden saga has drawn on and are best served getting Brogdon if Holiday is out of play,” suggests Weiss.
“A three-way deal could help the Celtics get this trade done more easily if the Clippers were willing to contribute to the draft capital going to Portland”.
To talk us through how he sees the new league landscape for the coming 2023-24 season, former NBAer Channing Frye put together a video that has him ranking all of the league’s potential conte… https://t.co/guWB4uBwbU
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) September 29, 2023
The cost could be steep, but in the Athletic insider’s opinion, (a)ny price to get over the top and hang another banner is worth it.
“The Celtics have a shot at him, and this is the one they can’t miss,” he adds — and it’s hard to argue to the contrary if they can do it without dealing away one of their core big men.
The deal has the Bucks giving up Jrue Holiday, and raises questions about their defense — and Boston trying to trade for Holiday as well. https://t.co/KfNOVoRgjM
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) September 29, 2023
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