Former two-time NBA champion Jrue Holiday was reportedly unhappy when the Boston Celtics traded him to the Portland Trail Blazers as part of the Anfernee Simons trade.
And his reported unhappiness is justified. Holiday, 35, is better served playing for a championship contender in the latter stages of his career, rather than a rebuilding team like the Trail Blazers, who are most likely to miss the playoffs in 2025-26.
The Los Angeles Lakers, a veteran team with championship aspirations, could be the perfect fit for Holiday. And it just so happens that the Purple & Gold are viewed as frontrunners to land the defensive ace if the Trail Blazers make him available.
In light of the reports, Fadeaway World proposed a Lakers trade that would bring Holiday on board, pairing him with LeBron James, Luka Doncic and Co.
Lakers would receive: Jrue Holiday
Trail Blazers would receive: Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent, Dalton Knecht
Holiday-Smart Can Wreak Havoc
In the lead-up to the offseason, multiple Lakers insiders suggested that the team’s top priority was to strengthen their point-of-attack defense. The Marcus Smart signing already went a long way in achieving that, and Holiday will only help further.
A potential backcourt of Holiday and Smart, along with the rim protection of DeAndre Ayton, could make the Lakers a credible defensive unit in the 2025-26 season.
“Should the Lakers successfully trade for Holiday, they would not only be acquiring a defensive stopper, but they’d also be adding a two-time champion to their roster,” read the article.
“In the last five years, Holiday has been a part of two title-winning squads. His recent experiences of winning it all could be crucial in driving success for the Purple and Gold this upcoming season.”
LeBron, Jrue Have Chemistry
James was a teammate of Jrue Holiday at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where the duo captured Olympic gold for Team USA. As such, James and Holiday will have instant on-court chemistry if the trade mentioned above comes to fruition.
“There are virtually no downsides to pursuing Jrue Holiday for the Lakers,” argued Fadeaway World. “While they will be looking to part ways with expiring contracts, and Dalton Knecht frequently being mentioned in trade chatter, the Purple and Gold will simply be doing what they planned to do.
“The addition of Holiday gives the Lakers a lot of depth, particularly in their defensive rotations. His reliable presence on both ends of the floor could also be essential in developing on-court chemistry.”
Holiday had a down year in the 2024-25 season, as he averaged 11.1 points, his fewest since his rookie year, but his defense remained elite. The six-time NBA All-Defensive selection ranked 19th in the league in defensive win shares, helping the Celtics to the fourth-best defensive rating (110.1) in the regular season and the second-best defensive rating (114.4) in the playoffs. There’s little doubt that he can still shut down the best offensive players in the league, a skill set the Lakers could desperately use.
The veteran guard has three seasons left on his four-year, $134 million contract, with a player option in the final year of his deal.
