Celtics Trade Holiday to Blazers for Emerging Star Simons - Save $40M in Luxury Tax

Celtics Trade Holiday to Blazers for Emerging Star Simons - Save $40M in Luxury Tax

According to multiple sources, the Boston Celtics are trading Jrue Holiday to the Portland Trail Blazers for Anfernee Simons and two second-round draft picks.

 

Simons joins Boston on an expiring contract, while Holiday is owed around $72 million in 2026-27 and 2027-28. The deal saves Boston $40 million in luxury tax payments next season, according to ESPN's Bobby Marks.

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“Portland moved aggressively to reacquire Holiday, whom the franchise originally received from the Milwaukee Bucks in the Damian Lillard trade in 2023 and later moved to Boston. Portland receives Holiday back after trading him to Boston two years ago for Malcolm Brogdon, Robert Williams III, a 2024 first-round draft pick (that became Bub Carrington) and a 2029 first-round draft pick. The original package for Lillard included Holiday, Deandre Ayton, Toumani Camara, a first-round pick and two first-round pick swaps,” reports ESPN.

 

Simons is an emerging star. Just 25-years-old he averaged over 20 points per game in the past three years. The Celtics get younger and add more scoring in the deal and the new ownership group saves tens of millions in luxury tax payments.