Technically speaking, the Milwaukee Bucks did not trade Jrue Holiday to the Boston Celtics. That would have been a capital sin. Then again, that’s still how the situation played out with the Portland Trail Blazers ultimately striking a deal with Boston to send the two-time All-Star to Bean Town.
As it turns out, Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups played a pivotal role in Holiday’s transition to Boston. Holiday himself has now spoken out about how this all came to be, as well as how thankful he is to his ex-coach for four days.
Ex-Milwaukee Bucks Star Jrue Holiday Reveals Chauncey Billups’ Role in Celtics Move
Now that he’s firmly established himself as a key player for the Celtics and their championship hopes this season, Holiday looked back at the deal that made this all happen. The 33-year-old is extremely thankful to Billups for looking out for him throughout the entire trade process:
“It meant a lot,” Holiday told Jay King of The Athletic. “Being able to see a coach that has my best interests (in mind). And you could see it and you could hear it, which a lot of times maybe some players don’t get a chance to see that from a coach. So he definitely had my best interest (at heart) from the beginning. And he just always looked out for me.”
Been There, Done That
Ultimately, Billups and the Blazers could have forced Holiday to play in Portland. After all, they just lost Damian Lillard and they needed a replacement point guard. However, Billups knew that at this point in his career, Holiday would be better off with a team that could compete for a championship.
“I had a great conversation with him,” Billups remembered. “I did. I love Jrue, man. I love Jrue. And we got him very briefly obviously. And I had a conversation — a long, good conversation with him — just about I know it was a little tough spot for him, being traded, kind of being blindsided by that. I’ve been there before. So just being able to rap with him like that because I know him. And it was important for me that a good person like him, who’s been great on every team and every community that he’s lived in, for him to be treated properly and be put in a great position and a great spot.”
It’s not as if the Blazers were left empty-handed when they sent Holiday to Boston. However, there’s no denying that Jrue would not be where he is today had it not been for Billups.
“Just him being real with me,” Holiday said. “Obviously because he’s been through just a lot. Being a Hall of Famer, being a winner, a champion, being a point guard. Him just being super honest with me and speaking from experience.”
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