NBA Trade Shock PORTLAND, OR – In a late-night stunner, the Portland Trail Blazers and Boston Celtics have agreed to a franchise-altering trade. According to sources, Portland will acquire All-Star guard Jrue Holiday in exchange for Malcolm Brogdon and two future second-round draft picks. The deal, finalized just hours before the new league year, sends shockwaves through both conferences.
The Trade Mechanics
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Portland Receives: Jrue Holiday (4 years, $134M remaining: $30M in 2024-25, escalating to $37.2M player option in 2026-27).
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Boston Receives: Malcolm Brogdon ($25.9M expiring in 2025) + two second-round picks.
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Cap Impact: Celtics create a $4.11M trade exception and slash $40M+ in future luxury tax. Blazers absorb Holiday’s long-term deal but gain elite defense/leadership.
Why Portland Pulled the Trigger
After a 36-46 season in the brutal West, Portland’s GM aggressively cashed in cap flexibility:
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Win-Now Gambit: Holiday pairs with Shaedon Sharpe, Deandre Ayton, and Toumani Camara to form a playoff-caliber core.
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Leadership Injection: Holiday’s championship pedigree (2021 Bucks, 2024 Celtics) accelerates the rebuild.
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Roster Math: With Scoot Henderson, Anfernee Simons, and the No. 11 pick in the draft, Portland had expendable backcourt assets.
*”Portland sees 44+ wins as achievable. Holiday’s two-way prowess is worth the financial risk for a team starved for relevance.”* – Western Conference Scout
Boston’s Salary-Dump Masterstroke
The Celtics’ priority? Duck the second apron ($18M+ over):
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Tax Relief: Shedding Holiday’s $72M owed in 2025-27 provides breathing room.
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Dominoes to Follow: Kristaps Porziņģis ($31M) or Derrick White could be next as Boston eyes future flexibility.
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Bridge Year: With Jayson Tatum’s supermax looming, Boston prioritizes 2025 cap space over 2024 contention.
What’s Next for Both Teams?
| Portland | Boston |
|---|---|
| Starting 5: Holiday/Sharpe/Camara/Ayton/Claxton | Simons/White backcourt (for now) |
| Targets: Play-in surge (+8 wins) | Targets: Avoid 2nd-apron penalties |
| Risk: Holiday’s age (34) + contract | Opportunity: Use trade exception + picks |
Final Analysis: NBA Trade Shock Portland bets big on veteran elevation while Boston plays the long game. If Holiday elevates the Blazers to the playoffs, this trade becomes a steal. For the Celtics, it’s a sobering signal: the 2024 title run was the end of an era.
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