Analyst hates that Boston Celtics offseason splash's number won't be retired by his old team

CBS Sports' Sam Quinn is a strong opponent of Patrick Beverley taking Jrue Holiday's No. 21 with the Milwaukee Bucks, which was announced on February 9 following the Bucks' swap with the Philadelphia 76ers that saw the Sixers land Cameron Payne and a 2027 second-round pick. As Quinn sees it, the Boston Celtics' late-offseason backcourt splash is part of a foursome from the 2020-21 Milwaukee title team who deserves his number retired.

"I don't like this," Quinn prefaced before saying, "The Bucks should be planning to retire Holiday's number.
I talk about this every now and then on here: I'm pretty liberal about jersey retirements. If you're an essential part of a champion, you should get it. I'd retire Giannis, Middleton, Jrue and Brook."

Quinn provided context as to how he differentiates retired numbers for a team of higher esteem.

"I think for dynasties the bar would have to be slightly higher," Quinn wrote. "Guys who were there for multiple titles. I'd definitely retire Steph, Klay, Dray, Iggy and KD. I'd hear arguments for Livingston and Looney. No to Barnes or Wiggins.

"Raps? Definitely Kawhi, Kyle, FVV and Siakam. I'd be ok with Gasol or Ibaka, though I'd rate them as slightly less essential as Jrue and Brook to the '21 Bucks."

Boston Celtics retired numbers debate complicated if Cs win 2023-24 title

From Quinn's perspective, Holiday wouldn't deserve to have his number retired if the Celtics won the 2023-24 title. Ditto for Kristaps Porzingis, and presumably for Derrick White as well. Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum would certainly have cases given their (if they win Banner 18) five conference finals appearances and two Eastern Conference titles. Arguably, Al Horford would too.

But what about Marcus Smart? His departure will have indirectly led to a championship after a decade-and-a-half drought that he was in Boston for nearly a decade of. That's what makes Smart returning in the future so important to so many. No. 36 deserves to be part of the come-up he was such an inspiration for.

Hopefully, these uncomfortable questions need to be asked this summer. And hopefully Smart will leave no doubts about No. 36 being retired by the Cs.