Blazers Engaged With Other Teams on Jrue Holiday Trade

Well, the Trail Blazers finally did it. They finally agreed to a Damian Lillard trade, which will send the star guard to the Bucks.

Now, all they need to do is trade one of the players they are receiving for Lillard. Or maybe not. But according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Blazers are at least engaging with other teams on a trade involving Jrue Holiday, who is coming over from Milwaukee.

Along with Holiday, the Blazers are set to receive center Deandre Ayton from the Suns, sending center Jusuf Nurkic to Phoenix in the process. Portland is also receiving some draft picks — a 2029 Bucks first-rounder, and the right to swap first-round picks with the Bucks in 2028 and 2030.

Holiday is one of the best and most underrated backcourt veterans in the NBA, both a strong defender, playmaker, and winner. But for now, it seems, the Blazers are committed to building around their youth movement at guard, which includes No. 3 overall pick Scoot Henderson, as well as Anfernee Simons and Shaedon Sharpe.

With that in mind, moving Holiday for more assets makes sense.

Holiday, 33, is on an expiring contract and set to become a free agent at the end of the season.