Just over a month ago, Jrue Holiday’s time with the Boston Celtics came to an end when he was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for Anfernee Simons. Holiday’s exit didn’t come as a surprise, as there’d been speculation that Boston would be busy in the trade market this summer to combat the penalties that come with being a second-apron team. The two-time All-Star and his $104 million owed over the next three seasons were one of the more obvious pieces to move in a cost-cutting deal.
The now-Blazers guard spoke to the media Tuesday for the first time since the move. If there’s one thing he’s confident in, it’s his ability to be a basketball chameleon, as he was with the Celtics, and fit any role that’s asked of him.
“I think I play every position,” he said via The Rose Garden Report. “I’ve proven that and shown that throughout my career. I’m a complete basketball player. You can’t put one position on someone, the way the game is changing now. Guys who have never played point guard are coming into the league and playing point guard. I’m a good fit with anyone.”
The Celtics will miss Holiday and his shape-shifting ability
Holiday’s confidence in his versatility serves as a great reminder of what the Celtics were forced to give up due to the league’s newest CBA.
Though his tenure in Boston was short, it was still impactful. The veteran guard was prepared for anything Joe Mazzulla asked him to do, no matter the volume. There would be nights where he’d take just five shots and guard his yard on defense, and then there were others where he’d be involved in everything the team did.
His versatility allowed Holiday to be a key contributor on the 2024 NBA Championship team. He put together several strong playoff outings, including a 26-point performance in Game 2 of the NBA Finals. Even in that game, Holiday wasn’t scoring because the ball was always in his hands. He instead did a tremendous job of moving without it and made himself accessible and easy to find for easy looks in the paint and beyond the arc.
The 34-year-old was so good in that year’s Eastern Conference Finals that he was in serious contention for the series MVP award. No moment was greater than his game-sealing steal on Andrew Nembhard in Game 3 of that series against the Indiana Pacers.
Holiday remained impactful in the 2024-25 campaign, but saw his efficiency drop off a bit. After shooting a career-high 42.9% from three the year prior, he saw that number drop to just 35.3% as he battled a series of injuries.
Even if he doesn’t fully return to the level he was at in the 2023-24 season, Holiday should still be a great fit with a defensive-minded Trail Blazers team due to his shape-shifting mindset.