It is never easy to get rid of a fan favorite. The Boston Celtics face that reality this offseason, though, no matter what the franchise does.
The hurdles facing the Celtics this offseason concerning their impending luxury tax bill have been discussed ad nauseam. While it never made sense for the organization to move forward with a roster that would have cost upwards of $500 million, after tax penalties were taken into account, the Achilles injury suffered by Jayson Tatum only makes the need to shed salary greater.
One of the ways Boston can do this over the summer? Trading veteran guard Jrue Holiday to an Eastern Conference rival. The Celtics never want to help a conference rival by sending a quality player their way, but Brad Stevens and the rest of the front office have their hands tied.
Celtics Move Jrue Holiday to East Miami Heat in Latest Projected Trade
Heat receive: Jrue Holiday, 2025 First-round pick
Celtics receive: Andrew Wiggins
Losing a player like Holiday will be felt on both ends of the floor, but replacing him with another two-way player with the potential to grow on the offensive end isn't the worst thing in the world either. Wiggins would offer Boston a versatile wing who can score from all three levels in addition to being fully capable of locking down opposing players when the Celtics are on the defensive end.
For Miami, adding Holiday brings them one step closer to returning to playoff contention after those hopes were dashed this season following James Harden's trade request. The Heat would also add some additional draft capital to use on other pieces they need.
Adding a younger player who is under team control is a worthwhile move for the Celtics to make as they look to keep their finals window open for as lokg
