May 14, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics guard Jrue Holiday (4) controls the ball while New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) defends in the second half during game five of the second round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images

'The Second Apron is Why Those Trades Happened' – Boston Celtics’ Brad Stevens Gets 100% Honest on Trading Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis

Originally posted on Hardwood Heroics | By Jordan Samar | Last updated Jul 9, 2025 9:39 AM ET

Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens made the tough decision of disassembling their 2024 championship core by trading away Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis to the Portland Trail Blazers and the Atlanta Hawks this summer.

During his recent press conference, Stevens opened up on how difficult it was to break the trade news to Holiday and Porzingis and made it clear that the second apron is the reason they’re no longer with the team.

“Well, Porzingis was asleep (when I called him), and by the time he woke up, I was asleep, but he knew he was probably gonna get traded, so I think he was okay by then,” Stevens admitted. “I actually talked to both those guys a couple weeks before, and just said, like, ‘Listen, there’s a chance that you’re back, but there’s also a high chance that you’re not.’”

Jun 17, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis (center) and forward Jayson Tatum (right) celebrate with Celtics director of rehabilitation Steve Mount in the locker room after winning the 2024 NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Elsa/Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports

“I mean, the second apron is why those trades happened,” he added. “I think that those were pretty obvious. And the basketball penalties associated with those are real.”

Boston Celtics News: Brad Stevens sends strong message to the team ahead of 2025-26

Despite losing Kristaps Porzingis, Jrue Holiday, Luke Kornet, and potentially Al Horford , Brad Stevens remains optimistic that the Boston Celtics will remain competitive in the 2025-26 campaign. With Jayson Tatum out indefinitely due to a torn Achilles, Stevens challenges everyone on the team to step up, especially the young players.

Boston Celtics Rumors: Jeff Bezos' Half-Brother is 1 of the 2 New Suitors Keen on Purchasing the Team 3 May 14, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens looks on before game seven of the 2023 NBA playoffs between the Boston Celtics and the Philadelphia 76ers at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

“My expectations are always the same: Compete like hell to win the next game,” Stevens said. “That will always be it. And that’s the way that we’re going to try to put our foot forward.”

“You’re always building and growing towards something. And, for this group, we’ve got so many guys back that are really good players that (‘rebuild’ is) not going to be part of the lexicon in our building,” he emphasized.