This story has been updated with new information.
The Boston Celtics are trading Jrue Holiday to the Portland Trail Blazers for Anfernee Simons, a person with direct knowledge of the deal confirmed to USA TODAY Sports.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the news.
ESPN’s Shams Charania was the first to report the trade, which also sends two second-round picks to the Celtics.
Holiday goes to the team that he was initially traded to in a three-team deal in September 2023 between the Milwaukee Bucks, Phoenix Suns and Trail Blazers in order for the Bucks to acquire Damian Lillard. Shortly thereafter, Holiday was traded by the Trail Blazers to the Celtics. Now the two-time All-Star and two-time NBA champion returns to Portland.
In two seasons with the Celtics, Holiday averaged 11.8 points and helped Boston win the 2024 NBA title.
Holiday is the second major NBA player to be dealt in as many days after the Suns traded Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets on Sunday, June 22. Holiday signed a four-year, $134.4 million extension with the Celtics late in the 2023-24 season and has three seasons remaining on the deal, though he has a player option on 2027-28 and can become a free agent in the summer of 2027. Holiday, 35, remains one of the top defensive guards in the league and will help Portland rebuild in the short term and possibly longer
The Celtics are looking to reduce their luxury tax bill and create roster flexibility. They will look to make more moves through the draft and free agency.
Simons, a first-round pick by the Trail Blazers in 2018, has averaged 15 points during his seven-year NBA career, which had been spent in Portland. He is entering the final season of a four-year, $100 million contract and is due $27.6 million in 2025-26. Simons will be an unrestricted free agent after next season.
