NBA World Reacts to Unexpected Jrue Holiday-Anfernee Simons Swap

Another blockbuster trade, and just days before the draft.

Then-Boston Celtics guard Jrue Holiday on Jan 31, 2025. / Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

The Boston Celtics have agreed to swap Celtics guard Jrue Holiday for the Portland Trail Blazers' Anfernee Simons and two second-round picks, ESPN insider Shams Charania reported Monday night, in what is just the latest big-time move of the NBA offseason.

That the Celtics would need to offload some financial responsibility has been a big talking point since their elimination in the second round of playoffs, so it makes sense to see some action happening there. The Blazers, meanwhile, will re-acquire Holiday, whom they traded away to Boston after initially receiving him as part of the Damian Lillard trade in 2023.

As it often does, NBA world quickly chimed in with (1) its takes on the deal, which ranged from confused to pleasantly surprised, as well as (2) some "thank yous" to Holiday (though it would seem those came from primarily Celtics fans).

Take a look at that reaction below:

Interesting! Love this for Boston. They get off the Jrue contract for a cheaper, younger, expiring player who fits what they'll need next yr (creation) better.

For Portland, I get they want a winning vet... I just wouldn't wanna be attached to Jrue + Grant contracts through '28. https://t.co/zBfu13m2uU

— Carson Breber (@Carsobi) June 24, 2025

Interesting https://t.co/rihboSluFX

— Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins) June 24, 2025

Well see if the Blazers end up flipping Jrue elsewhere but I kind of like the idea of him on that roster in the backcourt with Scoot

That Blazers defense was a *force* this season. Jrue can still give them that.

We’ve seen the important of vets in Houston and Detroit.

— Esfandiar Baraheni (@JustEsBaraheni) June 24, 2025

Anfernee Simons is a really good offensive player. He's nine years younger than Jrue Holiday. He costs $5 million less, and if nothing else, he's on an expiring deal. If the Celtics don't want to keep him, they can just let him walk and solve their financial issues.

A+ trade.

— Sam Quinn (@SamQuinnCBS) June 24, 2025

Love Jrue, but he is 35 and wasn’t the same player this past season.

Brad Stevens had to make a move to shed $$$, and Holiday had 2 more years at 32 and 35 mil and a player option at 37 mil. https://t.co/QZ6NbMYT1w

— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) June 24, 2025

I’m very sad the Jrue Holiday era is over in Boston. The writing was on the wall, sure, but it’s still unfortunate it had to end.

He was the *perfect* player next to the Jays. One of the most unselfish talents the NBA has ever seen, no hyperbole. Made them an untouchable force…

— Shane Young (@YoungNBA) June 24, 2025

damn the nba really said "no days off" https://t.co/ZC90SUmoRj

— claire de lune (@ClaireMPLS) June 24, 2025

Why would Portland do this? What was the point here? https://t.co/UVeRQ4cGOP

— Shehan Jeyarajah (@ShehanJeyarajah) June 24, 2025

Jrue Holiday is a joy to be around. All class as a person and player. And spells his name in a cool way.

4ever a champ. ☘️

— Drew Carter (@Drewdle25) June 24, 2025

Thanks to 2024 NBA World Champion Jrue Holiday!!!!!!!

— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) June 24, 2025

The inevitable quickly becomes reality.

And with it, dies the idea that we can ever compare teams from the 2020's, with NBA teams from other eras across multiple years.

OKC is our 7th champion in 7 years.

And this is clearly what the NBA is now designed to produce. https://t.co/zZCZEpsgaM

— Sean Grande (@SeanGrandePBP) June 24, 2025

Let the rest of the offseason madness commence.

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