Shams: Jrue Holiday Traded to Blazers For Simons & Two Second Rounders

[DefenseWinsChamps]

This deal includes 2 first round picks going to the Blazers.

Saves just under $5 million.

Where are you reading that?

There has to be something else going to Portland. Why would they do a deal like this?

Portland does it to get the ball in Scoot and Sharpe's hands more, while putting a good veteran guard around them. Blazers think they can win more next year.

[blink]

Well this is surprising. This deal saves the Celtics less than 5 million dollars, which means they are still significantly over the 2nd apron, probably by about 15-20 million over.

That said Simons is an expiring, so they get off roughly 2/70 remaining on Holiday's contract in 26/27 and 27/28.

Simons can also provide some much-needed scoring for the Celtics next year.

So not the deal we all thought, but interesting.

So maybe the C's think the rest of the east will be so bad next year (Hali out too) that with Simons that we are a top 4 team in the east next year?
Then if Simmons doesn't blend in we let him walk and retool with JT back the following year?

[DefenseWinsChamps]

Simons had a lot of rumors around him for the last half a year. I wonder if the Cs move Simons again for more value.

Edit: I could see them flipping Simons to the Bulls for Ball and the 12th pick, with an extra Bulls player (Huerter) going elsewere.

[Atzar]

An optimistic prediction:  I think Simons is a candidate to come in and see a significant jump in efficiency.  He's having to pretend to be a #1 option in Portland these last few years, and he's not that.  But unless we hit the red button, he's more likely to be a third or fourth option for us even with Tatum out.  I think he's a better shooter than a glance at his stats would indicate, and a diet of easier shots may help him thrive if he's willing to accept a smaller role than he's used to.

Interesting pickup.

[Roy H.]

Here are the salaries going out

To Boston

Anfernee Simons: $25.9M, $27.7M (UFA, 2026)

* The Celtics get off the combined $72M owed to Holiday in 2026-27 and 2027-28

* Projected $40M in tax savings in 2025-26

* $18M over the 2nd apron

* Simons is extension eligible

To Portland

Jrue Holiday: $30M, $32.4M, $34.8M, $37.2M (Player, 2027)

[blink]

Simons had a lot of rumors around him for the last half a year. I wonder if the Cs move Simons again for more value.

He was a 20 point scorer on a bad team.   Not sure where that puts him with a more veteran team of better players.
So unless he gets shipped out it is

Simons
DWhite
JB
?
KP

starting next year?

[Who]

* Small combo guard with good scoring / shooting skills.

* Limited ball-handling and playmaking. Not a real PG. Solid secondary playmaking for a SG.

* Defensively vulnerable. Easily overpowered at SG. Did better at PG. Closer to an average defender. Does not switch well. He will get picked on. He will be matchup hunted. Pritchard probably does the better job defending guys bigger than him than A Simons does.

[Goldstar88]

Simons had a lot of rumors around him for the last half a year. I wonder if the Cs move Simons again for more value.

Edit: I could see them flipping Simons to the Bulls for Ball and the 12th pick, with an extra Bulls player (Huerter) going elsewere.

Yeah, I mean they aren?t going to pay him, right? He?s on the last year of his deal.  6?3/190lb combo guard. Puts up about 20pts,5ast,3rebs per game.

[Who]

An optimistic prediction:  I think Simons is a candidate to come in and see a significant jump in efficiency.  He's having to pretend to be a #1 option in Portland these last few years, and he's not that.  But unless we hit the red button, he's more likely to be a third or fourth option for us even with Tatum out.  I think he's a better shooter than a glance at his stats would indicate, and a diet of easier shots may help him thrive if he's willing to accept a smaller role than he's used to.

Interesting pickup.

He has always reminded me of Jason Terry.

[Ilikesports17]

So what's the Simons scouting report

Inneficient volume scorer. Horrible on defense?

Imagine in a better role his efficiency would go back up, he used to be pretty efficient.

[radiohead]

Simons had a lot of rumors around him for the last half a year. I wonder if the Cs move Simons again for more value.

He was a 20 point scorer on a bad team.   Not sure where that puts him with a more veteran team of better players.
So unless he gets shipped out it is

Simons
DWhite
JB
?
KP

starting next year?

Big Al?

[Goldstar88]

* Small combo guard with good scoring / shooting skills.

* Limited ball-handling and playmaking. Not a real PG. Solid secondary playmaking for a SG.

* Defensively vulnerable. Easily overpowered at SG. Did better at PG. Closer to an average defender. Does not switch well. He will get picked on. He will be matchup hunted. Pritchard probably does the better job defending guys bigger than him than A Simons does.

Yeah, I agree. He doesn?t seem like a fit considering how much the Celtics value versatility on defense. I mean, can you imagine him trying to guard Bane or Suggs when they play Orlando? They are going to beast on him and Pritchard.

[radiohead]

An optimistic prediction:  I think Simons is a candidate to come in and see a significant jump in efficiency.  He's having to pretend to be a #1 option in Portland these last few years, and he's not that.  But unless we hit the red button, he's more likely to be a third or fourth option for us even with Tatum out.  I think he's a better shooter than a glance at his stats would indicate, and a diet of easier shots may help him thrive if he's willing to accept a smaller role than he's used to.

Interesting pickup.

He has always reminded me of Jason Terry.

I hope the addition of Simmons doesn?t mean the end of PP?s tenure in Boston. I always assumed any Jrue trade would bring in a big, and makes PP the starter.

[Who]

I don't understand the trade at all for Portland. They would have been better off letting A Simons' contract expire and leave on a free next summer than take on 2 additional years of Jrue's contract.

[Ilikesports17]

An optimistic prediction:  I think Simons is a candidate to come in and see a significant jump in efficiency.  He's having to pretend to be a #1 option in Portland these last few years, and he's not that.  But unless we hit the red button, he's more likely to be a third or fourth option for us even with Tatum out.  I think he's a better shooter than a glance at his stats would indicate, and a diet of easier shots may help him thrive if he's willing to accept a smaller role than he's used to.

Interesting pickup.

He has always reminded me of Jason Terry.

I hope the addition of Simmons doesn?t mean the end of PP?s tenure in Boston. I always assumed any Jrue trade would bring in a big, and makes PP the starter.

I expect Simons to be moved again