Brad Stevens and the Boston Celtics are at it again.
Stevens, the team’s president of basketball operations, followed up the Kristaps Porzingis move from earlier in the summer by pulling trigger on another trade to land All-Defensive guard Jrue Holiday from Portland. The move shakes things up even more for a Celtics team that remains steadfast in hoisting an ever-elusive Banner 18.
Boston will send center Robert Williams III and reigning Sixth Man of the Year Malcolm Brogdon in exchange for the 33-year-old Holiday. Portland will also receive a 2024 first-round pick via Golden State and a 2029 first-round pick from the Celtics. It’s a steep price, but may prove to be worth it.
The deal comes just days after Milwaukee sent Holiday to the Blazers in a trade for superstar Damian Lillard.
So what does this mean for the Celtics? We know one thing for sure: They are putting all their eggs in the win-now basket, once again sacrificing depth for high level individual talent.
Before diving into any of the glaring concerns stemming from the seismic roster move, let’s take a look at the positives.
Holiday, a 6-foot-3, 205-pound combo guard has established himself as an elite defender throughout his 14-year career. He’s made five NBA All-Defensive teams, landing on the First-Team three times including last season. Holiday is relentless, making a name for himself with his on-ball pressure, crafty footwork and ability to anticipate plays before they happen. He’s also one of the best shot-blocking guards the league has to offer.
Offensively he’s no slouch, either. The shifty floor general has averaged 16.4 points, 6.5 assists, 3.2 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 0.5 blocks for his career, making two all-star teams (2013 and 2023) along the way. In 67 games with the Bucks last year, Holiday posted nightly averages of 19.3 points, 7.4 assists, 5.1 rebounds and 1.2 steals while shooting an efficient 48 percent from the field and over 38 percent from distance.
Holiday is as steady as they come at the guard position. He’s intelligent with the ball in his hands, never seems to stop moving off the ball, can score at all three levels and isn’t afraid to get physical, even against players much bigger than him. He’s fairly durable, too, having suited up in at least 60 of his team’s games in 11 of his 14 professional seasons.
Holiday will more than likely slide right into Boston’s starting lineup, joining Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Derrick White and Porzingis. On paper, it’s arguably the best starting five in the league. All five players can score at a high-to-elite level and all five have proven to be top-tier defenders at their respective positions.
But as good of a get as Holiday is for Boston, it comes at a price. With the departure of the oft-injured yet extremely versatile and impactful Williams III, the Celtics are left with just three bigs: a 37-year-old Al Horford, a limited Luke Kornet, and Porzingis, who’s more of a scoring power forward than a true center.
Golden State has found plenty of success deploying guard-heavy lineups during their multiple championship runs, but that doesn’t mean it’ll work for everyone. The Eastern Conference in particular boasts a variety of physically gifted superstars at the center position, including former MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee and reigning MVP Joel Embiid in Philadelphia. Who on the Celtics is going to guard those guys?
Adding to their frontcourt depth will undoubtedly be at the forefront of the Celtics’ looming goals as we inch closer to the preseason. It was announced on Sunday that they’ll bring journeyman big Wenyen Gabriel into training camp to compete for a roster spot, and although he could be a solid addition, the 26-year-old doesn’t exactly move the needle. Most recently playing for the LA Lakers, the 6-foot-9 Gabriel has averaged just 4.5 points and 3.4 rebounds in reserve roles throughout his four-year career.
The current market isn’t exactly chock full of other impactful big men the Celtics can add, meaning another trade isn’t out of the question. Fortunately, Boston is so stacked at other positions that it may not hurt them quite as much as one would think.
Only time will tell.