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

[Who]

Even last season, when the Blazers dramatically improved defensively and ranked just ahead of Boston at third in points allowed per 100 possessions over the second half of the season, Simons rated near the bottom of the league in luck-adjusted defensive RAPM (regularized adjusted plus-minus) from BBall-Index.com. Simons' estimated impact of 2.0 points per 100 possessions is worse than that of an average defender ranked in the bottom 20. No Celtics player was in the bottom 170.[/b]

I'm going to interpret this to mean that a team can have a great defense, even with Simons as a core piece.

It's the playoffs when he starts getting matchup hunted that will be the issue.

[jambr380]

I'm sure all of us are familiar with Simons, but probably not overly familiar. Tomasz Kordylewski always puts together great comp videos and this one is no exception. As with most highlight videos, Simons absolutely looks like a superstar here, but I find it interesting that the last bunch of highlights are all end of the game situations where he actually comes through. I wonder if this was a factor in Brad acquiring him.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hbsiwhmq-8w

[A Future of Stevens]

I'm sure all of us are familiar with Simons, but probably not overly familiar. Tomasz Kordylewski always puts together great comp videos and this one is no exception. As with most highlight videos, Simons absolutely looks like a superstar here, but I find it interesting that the last bunch of highlights are all end of the game situations where he actually comes through. I wonder if this was a factor in Brad acquiring him.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hbsiwhmq-8w

TP. Timi is the best at Celtics highlights. He is always quick off the draw. I watched this yesterday and got excited. We will see what happens, but I'm happy we got a walking 26 year old bucket for 35 year old Holiday. I think the key will be if we can get him to be passable on defense.

[No Nickname]

I'm sure all of us are familiar with Simons, but probably not overly familiar. Tomasz Kordylewski always puts together great comp videos and this one is no exception. As with most highlight videos, Simons absolutely looks like a superstar here, but I find it interesting that the last bunch of highlights are all end of the game situations where he actually comes through. I wonder if this was a factor in Brad acquiring him.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hbsiwhmq-8w

I don't know how many seasons' worth of clutch shots were included (were those all from last year or the past two years?) but he already looks more clutch than anyone we've had on this team in the past 15 years save for Isiah Thomas Jr and Kryie.

I'm curious about the metrics on his "clutch" plays, with less than a minute in a three-point game or less.  This was a definitive weakness for this team the past two years.

[Vermont Green]

Even last season, when the Blazers dramatically improved defensively and ranked just ahead of Boston at third in points allowed per 100 possessions over the second half of the season, Simons rated near the bottom of the league in luck-adjusted defensive RAPM (regularized adjusted plus-minus) from BBall-Index.com. Simons' estimated impact of 2.0 points per 100 possessions is worse than that of an average defender ranked in the bottom 20. No Celtics player was in the bottom 170.[/b]

I'm going to interpret this to mean that a team can have a great defense, even with Simons as a core piece.

It's the playoffs when he starts getting matchup hunted that will be the issue.

PLAYOFFS???  Are you talking about PLAYOFFS?  "Playoffs?! Don't talk about playoffs! You kidding me? Playoffs?!"  (Jim Mora)

I think Simons will be long gone before BOS is in the playoffs again.  Sounds like he has major issues on defense.  Maybe he can be a good bench scorer (microwave) type player for a playoff team, but I don't see that being the Celtics.  Any money we have to spend for 2026-27 and beyond needs to be spent on bigs.

[ozgod]

NGL, gonna miss Jrue. But no group stays together forever, especially not in this environment.

[tazzmaniac]

NGL, gonna miss Jrue. But no group stays together forever, especially not in this environment.

I'll miss Jrue too but the trade was inevitable given the contract situation.  Hopefully he'll get traded to a contender and not be stuck in Portland. 

[bello_man09]

I am seeing they are shopping Simons.

[hwangjini_1]

I am seeing they are shopping Simons.

care to expand or give sources? and are the celtics "shopping" simons or are they listening to offers from other teams. i ask since there is a difference between the two.

[SparzWizard]

Even last season, when the Blazers dramatically improved defensively and ranked just ahead of Boston at third in points allowed per 100 possessions over the second half of the season, Simons rated near the bottom of the league in luck-adjusted defensive RAPM (regularized adjusted plus-minus) from BBall-Index.com. Simons' estimated impact of 2.0 points per 100 possessions is worse than that of an average defender ranked in the bottom 20. No Celtics player was in the bottom 170.[/b]

I'm going to interpret this to mean that a team can have a great defense, even with Simons as a core piece.

It's the playoffs when he starts getting matchup hunted that will be the issue.

I'd be more concerned about the Celtics 3pt brick city offense before worrying about his defense. The team needs to generate more kinds of offense than just the obvious dribble, dribble, pass back out 3. If the 3s do not fall then they just succumb to it

[mobilija]

I am seeing they are shopping Simons.

care to expand or give sources? and are the celtics "shopping" simons or are they listening to offers from other teams. i ask since there is a difference between the two.

Maybe he?s clairvoyant. It?s a vision

[Roy H.]

I am seeing they are shopping Simons.

care to expand or give sources? and are the celtics "shopping" simons or are they listening to offers from other teams. i ask since there is a difference between the two.

Maybe he?s clairvoyant. It?s a vision

It's been reported, but not by Shams.  Who knows if it's true?