Boston Celtics: 2 multi-team Jrue Holiday trades involving Gordon Hayward

Sending Hayward to Phoenix

The second deal sends Hayward to a team that could be one veteran piece away from playoff contention in Phoenix. Lonzo Ball also ends up a Sun in this scenario.

Meanwhile, the Boston Celtics land both Jrue Holiday and Kelly Oubre Jr., and the New Orleans Pelicans get a rebuilding package headlined by two 2020 first-round picks, Cam Johnson, Mikal Bridges, Romeo Langford, and Ty Jerome.

Why the Boston Celtics do it

So again, the Cs would swap Hayward, Langford and draft picks to land Holiday. This time, the second player acquired is a player with the potential to play his way into a starting role in Kelly Oubre Jr.

Landing two starting-caliber players in a trade should always be the goal. Boston does that here.

Why the New Orleans Pelicans do it

This deal doesn’t move the Pelicans forward in the same obvious way as acquiring a 2x All-Star in Oladipo does, but the combination of prospects and picks should fill the holes left by losing both Jrue Holiday and Lonzo Ball in the backcourt.

Why the Phoenix Suns do it

Phoenix isn’t like Boston in this trade scenario: they would not be acquiring two potential starters in this transaction. Instead, they would get two bona fide starters that can get the team over the hump in an increasingly competitive Western Conference.