The Trail Blazers didn t pay much, their operations were much smarter than everyone thought?

According to ESPN reporter Shams Charania, the Boston Celtics and the Portland Trail Blazers completed a deal. The Celtics traded backcourt veteran Jrue Holiday to the Trail Blazers and obtained Anfernee Simons and two future second-round picks from the Trail Blazers. Shams also said that the two future second round picks given by the Trail Blazers are the second round picks for the New York Knicks in 2030 and the second round picks for the Trail Blazers in 2031. The Ringer reporter Kevin O 'Connor said that the Trail Blazers' behavior of getting Holiday through trades is much smarter than many people think. After the All-Star Weekend, the Trail Blazers ranked in the top 5 in the league in defensive efficiency. In the short term, Holiday's arrival will not only make this young team go further on the defensive end, but he is also more suitable to partner with his existing core team than Simmons.

O 'Connor continued: The price the Trail Blazers paid in this deal is actually not very high. They only supported a defender Simmons, who was about to expire and his style of play did not match the team, and two very distant second-round picks. Now is the time when Holiday's trading value is low. If Holiday can rebound in performance next season, his trading value will be far beyond the price Portland paid for him. The Trail Blazers also have the option to send him to the championship team before the 2026 trade deadline for more future returns. Or, the Trail Blazers could keep Holiday until the last year of his contract. By the 2027-28 season, Holiday's expiration contract worth $37 million will become very valuable and can be packaged with some other assets to exchange for star players, because big deals often require big contracts to match salary, and Holiday's contract has become an ideal "trading tool".

In the NBA regular season this season, Holiday made a total of 62 appearances in 82 games, averaging 30.6 minutes per game, averaging 11.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.4 blocks, and 1.2 turnovers and 1.6 fouls. His shooting percentage was 44.3%, three-point shooting percentage was 35.3%, and his free throw shooting percentage was 90.9%. In the playoffs, Holiday made 8 appearances in total, with averaging 33 minutes per game, with averaging 9.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.1 blocks. He also had 2 turnovers and 3.1 fouls. His shooting percentage was 48.3%, his three-point shooting percentage was 34.6%, and his free throw shooting percentage was 69.2%.

In fact, O 'Connor is not unreasonable. In everyone's eyes, it seems that the Trail Blazers are the failed party in the transaction, but Simmons has been in the team for many years. His progress is very limited. It seems that it is difficult for him to become part of the team's future revival plan. What's more, his existence has affected the growth of other young players. As for Holiday, his rich experience will actually bring a lot of help to the team. The cost-effectiveness of Holiday's contract may become worse and worse in two years, but at least next season, he will still be able to provide a lot of support to the team. In that case, what impact does this deal have on the Trail Blazers who have not entered the playoffs after 2021?