Former Bucks PG Jrue Holiday 'Definitely' Part of Portland’s Future Moving Forward Post-Trade, Says Insider

Jrue Holiday To Help Young Blazers Guards Develop, Add to Growth by Simons’ Subtraction

Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report clarified Portland’s position on Holiday post-trade:

It would certainly seem that the Blazers are invested in Holiday if they are willing, as a young, rebuilding team, to send out picks to acquire him. With three years and over $100 million left on his deal, his is not a team-friendly contract. Simons is an expiring salary, $27.7 million for 2025-26. As Charania reports, the trade saves Boston a huge chunk of luxury tax penalties.

More than that, it also gives them a scorer (19.3 PPG, 4.8 APG) whose potential has yet to be fully tapped. After seven years in Portland, though, he has grown as much there as he can. If Boston keeps him, it will be to see if they can create a more well-rounded, efficient version of him than what the Blazers got out of him.

That’s precisely what Holiday can do for the latter party: Portland’s Scoot Henderson (21) and Shaedon Sharpe (22) are a pair of promising young guards in need of mentoring. Sharpe in particular took a sizable step last season; with the right molding, the Blazers may have a star on their hands. With Simons out of the way, those two will have more room to spread their wings in the backcourt.

Here “For Now,” Gone Later?

As a 16-year veteran with title experience, Holiday can certainly lead the way. Truth be told, his chief value is no longer purely through his own production on the court, though he remains serviceable. Averaging 11.1 points and 3.9 assists last year in Boston, he has clearly lost a step on defense. He followed up a lackluster regular season with a disappointing playoff performance in which his age and lack of scoring punch came starkly through.

It is interesting to hear that the Blazers intend to “compete” next year. In 2024-25, they went 36-46 and finished 12th in the West. Trading for Holiday seems to be more of a bridge move, made a year or two prior to actually contending. With the way he’s slowing down, it might not help Portland to keep Holiday on the roster through the duration of his contract.