Blazers' Major Offseason Trade Slammed by Multiple Insiders

Nov 10, 2024; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (0) drives for the basket against Boston Celtics guard Jrue Holiday (4) in the first quarter at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images | Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

The Portland Trail Blazers have flown a bit under the radar this summer, but one of their key moves has come under recent scrutiny.

In a panel of 20 ESPN NBA insiders, scribe Tim Bontemps reports that three considered Portland's deal for Jrue Holiday to be the single-worst move of the offseason. The New Orleans Pelicans' outrageous decision to trade away an unprotected first-round pick received the most votes, with 11, as the worst offseason move.

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Three insiders considered the Phoenix Suns' decision to waive and stretch pricey guard Bradley Beal's remaining money to be the most problematic deal.

The Indiana Pacers' loss of free agent 3-and-D starting center free agent Myles Turner, Phoenix's trade of two picks for Mark Williams, and the Sacramento Kings' $44.4 million free agency signing of Dennis Schröder also earned votes.

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The Pelicans sending out an unprotected swap in the next year to move up 10 spots back in June's draft took the top spot handily, but the two other moves to receive more than a single vote were Portland trading Anfernee Simons to the Boston Celtics for Jrue Holiday and the Suns choosing to waive and stretch the nearly $100 million on Bradley Beal's contract.

What's Wrong with Jrue Holiday?

A two-time league champion, two-time All-Star, and six-time All-Defensive Teamer, Holiday is a beloved teammate and respected veteran across the league. But he's also 35 and heading into his 17th NBA season, and had enough questionable health issues during his physical to prompt Portland to revise its initial trade package, removing both of the second-round draft picks that the team had initially been planning to send to the Boston Celtics along with Simons.

Holiday and new signing Damian Lillard, another 35-year-old former All-Star guard with health questions (he'll most likely miss all of 2025-26 recovering from an Achilles tendon tear), will crowd Portland's backcourt. They'll need minutes and touches, and could detract from the development of recent lottery pick guards Shaedon Sharpe and Scoot Henderson.

"I just don't get what they are trying to do," a West assistant coach said of the Holiday deal. "You can't get enough time for all of their guards."

In fairness, perhaps Trail Blazers general manager Joe Cronin has already amended his projections for Sharpe and Henderson, and believes that the club's development resources should be committed elsewhere.

For more news and notes on the Portland Trail Blazers, visit Portland Trail Blazers on SI.