UCLA Men's Basketball: Miami Heat Rejected Despite "Significant" Trade Offer For Jrue Holiday
Former Bruins star Jrue Holiday didn't spend long in Portland and found his new home with the Boston Celtics in the fallout of the huge Damian Lillard blockbuster last week.
Though Boston's trade package became the most attractive to Blazers GM Joe Cronin, the Miami Heat missed out on the All-Star guard just days after losing Lillard as well, according to ESPN's Brian Windhorst on his Hoop Collective Podcast program.
Cronin refused to give into the all or nothing approach the Heat took and opted to trade his franchise icon to Milwaukee in a three team deal alongside Phoenix.
Holiday didn't match his now young roster's timeline and Cronin once again left the Heat at the altar, instead giving the former UCLA standout to Boston.
It's hard to fault Portland's front office for getting back five picks, a good young center in DeAndre Ayton and possibly even more assets should they deal Malcolm Brogdon or Robert Williams in the coming months.
From a logical standpoint the deal simply made more sense for the Blazers but that won't exactly help Miami sleep better at night.
The Heat lost significant pieces to their Finals roster this summer after Gabe Vincent and Max Strus jumped ship for other teams in free agency.
Holiday would've helped their chances at winning the East once again, but the Heat instead watched idly by as their two biggest rivals in the conference got stronger at the point guard position.
Though Heat star Jimmy Butler victimized Holiday in the 2023 playoffs, the UCLA great now holds the upper hand on paper with a better roster behind him heading into 2024.
Nothing is guaranteed until the games are played but the Bruin's new team and former employer seem destined to leave Miami behind in a battle for Eastern dominance come April.
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