According to ESPN reporter Shams Charania on Monday, the Boston Celtics have reached a blockbuster deal with the Portland Trail Blazers: sending Jrue Holiday to the Trail Blazers in exchange for Anfernee Simons and two second-round picks.

ESPN salary expert Bobby Marks further revealed that the two second-round picks sent by the Trail Blazers are the 2030 pick from the New York Knicks and their own pick in 2031. He also pointed out that sending Holiday away not only saved the Celtics about $40 million in luxury tax expenses, but also gained greater flexibility in the salary structure.

There are also reports that Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens is still in trade negotiations surrounding several key players.

Holiday, 35, mainly plays as a guard and was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers with the 17th pick in the first round in 2009. He then moved to the New Orleans Pelicans and Milwaukee Bucks, during which time he won the 2021 NBA championship with the Bucks.

In September 2023, Holiday was sent to the Celtics in a three-way trade involving Damian Lillard. So far, he has played 131 regular season games for the Celtics, averaging 16.2 points, 4.9 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game, with a shooting percentage of 46.4% and a three-point shooting percentage of 39.4%.

Holiday also played 27 playoff games for the Celtics, averaging 12.1 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game, shooting 49.5% from the field and 38.2% from three-point range, and won the championship with the team in 2024.