As entertaining a league as the NBA is, there's no denying that it is a business at its core. This means no matter how valuable and impactful a player is for a franchise, that player can be traded without warning.
Veteran guard Jrue Holiday is no stranger to the comings and goings of the NBA, having played in the league for over a decade. However, it doesn't make it any less jarring when a trade comes out of the blue. That's what Jrue and his family went through when he was involved in the trade that brought seven-time All-Star Damian Lillard to the Bucks on September 27.
"A warning would've been cool," the current Boston Celtic said when asked if he had any ill feelings towards the Bucks for trading him.
"But other than that, I'm in the best place that I can be to compete against them, which is for the top team in the East and, hopefully, the top team in the league," Jrue added.
Bucks got what they wanted
Milwaukee knew they needed to make a splash in the offseason to not only bolster their roster but also signify to two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo how serious they are about winning more championships with him. The Bucks were already a great team before the trade, but they knew that adding an elite scorer in Lillard could put them over the top.
However, acquiring the seven-time All-NBA team member came with a steep price: letting Jrue go.
"I think that they got what they wanted, so I can't be mad at that," Holiday said.
It's a business
Trades are a significant part of the fabric of the NBA, and Jrue Holiday is no stranger to that. As a veteran, he has seen his fair share of trades and understands how it works. While it hurts to be involved in such things, Holiday knows at the end of the day, it's a business decision for both sides:
"We do know that this is a business, and from a business standpoint, I'm in a very good position to be where I want to be, and that's to win the championship," Jrue, who is averaging 12.8 points, 7.4 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game this season, said.
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