The Boston Celtics did a commendable job in their trade with the Portland Trail Blazers shortly before midnight on the East Coast on Monday.
The 18-time NBA champions will receive Anfernee Simons and a pair of future second-round selections in exchange for Jrue Holiday. Some thought they'd have to attach draft capital to the latter's contract. The two-time All-Star's deal has $104.4 million remaining, including a player option.
Instead, Boston received draft assets. A deeper cupboard of picks could influence the organization in deciding whether to make another deal before the draft ends.
Parting with Holiday is painful. He was a valued voice in the locker room. He and his wife, Lauren, a soccer star and two-time Olympic gold medalist, made an immediate impact in the community as they built a bond with Boston.
And the six-foot-four guard's two-way presence was essential to Banner 18. That includes his compelling case for Eastern Conference Finals MVP. Holiday stonewalling Indiana Pacers' guard Andrew Nembhard, then securing a steal that sealed the Celtics' Game 3 win is a moment many fans will quickly recall when thinking about his local legacy.
Proceeding to neutralize Kyrie Irving in the NBA Finals was as impressive as it was necessary to last summer's coronation on Causeway Street.
Speaking of Irving, time and an NBA title haven't changed that he's among the least popular players in the eyes of many Celtics fans. One can roll their eyes at that and wonder why they haven't moved on, but it's a significantly sized contingent.
Those cheering for the league's original monarchy are probably not thrilled with Irving's team, the Dallas Mavericks, either. That's due to sending the Los Angeles Lakers Luka Doncic. It's about as unpopular a move as you'll find in sports in recent memory.
Between what Boston got for Holiday and those sentiments towards Irving and the Mavericks, fans of the former will likely delight in finding out about Dallas's failed pursuit of the two-time NBA champion.
According to Jared Weiss of The Athletic, the Mavericks were among those who had an interest in acquiring Holiday. The Sacramento Kings and Toronto Raptors join them as bridesmaids, who were unable to land the veteran guard.
Is there another deal to make with these teams?
As previously explored, the Kings are a poor trade partner for the Celtics. The only way that changes is if Sacramento finds another suitor for DeMar DeRozan.
The six-time All-Star, who turns 36 in August, is under contract for $24.8 million for the upcoming campaign. Given the consequences of being over the second apron again, it's wise to get below that threshold. DeRozan's salary won't provide enough help on that front. He's also under contract for $25.7 million for the 2026-27 season. While he's a mid-range maestro, his game is not a fit either.
The Raptors also don't seem like a good match. Moving Immanuel Quickley and not filling the void for another starting-caliber guard to pair with Gradey Dick could change the picture.
Quickley is on the books for $32.5 million each of the following four seasons. He's one of multiple hefty salaries on Toronto's payroll. The financial outlook North of the Border makes this an unlikely place for Boston to shed significant salary.
As for Dallas, the team reached an agreement on a three-year, $54 million extension with center Daniel Gafford on Monday, per NBA insider Marc Stein. According to salary cap expert Yossi Gozlan, the Mavericks can still trade him immediately.
The latest intel from Stein's Substack, The Stein Line, is that they are reluctant to do so. The same goes for forward P.J. Washington. It's challenging to envision a path to a deal rerouting Simons to Dallas without sending Gafford or Washington to Boston. Furthermore, they'd likely have to find a third team to help limit the salary going to the Celtics.
One would think the Kings, Raptors, and Mavericks must look elsewhere to bolster their backcourts.