[Saba Sports News] The Damian Lillard trade to the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday has triggered intense competition for another experienced guard. In the exchange, which involved the Portland Trail Blazers and the Phoenix Suns in a three-team transaction, Jrue Holiday became part of the assets sent to Portland. There is a prevailing expectation that this two-time All-Star guard will be traded once again.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, multiple championship contenders have expressed interest in acquiring Holiday. Specifically, Wojnarowski mentioned three teams in particular: the Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers, and Los Angeles Clippers.
Wojnarowski stated, “There is no shortage of championship contenders in the league eager to engage in trade discussions with the Blazers for Jrue Holiday. Among them are the Celtics and 76ers in the Eastern Conference, and the Clippers in the Western Conference. These teams are striving to bolster their rosters and keep pace with Milwaukee in the competitive Eastern Conference.”
The Celtics and Sixers are particularly motivated to secure Holiday through a trade, given that the acquisition of Lillard by the Bucks has had the most significant impact on their respective playoff aspirations. With Milwaukee now being the clear favorite in the Eastern Conference, either Boston or Philadelphia could narrow the gap by adding Holiday to their roster.
At 33 years old, Holiday is widely regarded as one of the NBA’s premier defensive players. He also contributes significantly in terms of scoring, averaging 19.3 points and 7.4 assists per game last season. Moreover, his influence extends beyond the basketball court, as he is highly regarded as a beloved figure in team dynamics, having won three NBA Teammate of the Year Awards.
While there may be indications that Holiday is dissatisfied with the trade that occurred on Wednesday, it appears likely that he will soon find himself with another contending team.