The Milwaukee Bucks set the NBA abuzz late last offseason when they acquired All-Star point guard Damian Lillard in a trade with the Portland Trailblazers and Phoenix Suns. As part of the deal, Milwaukee sent shooting guard Grayson Allen to Phoenix while Jrue Holiday was sent to Portland. The move was made without the knowledge or approval of two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was close to Holiday.
This is not to say Giannis was unhappy with the move; but rather that the front office did not want to put him in a place where he would have to choose between two people. After the trade, Giannis said of Holiday, “I wish him the best in everything that he does. And you never know down the road, you still might be teammates again. I love him. I don’t love him as a basketball player. I love him as a brother.”
Related: Why the Damian Lillard Trade Will Look Terrible for the Milwaukee Bucks in a Year or Two
With this in mind, it may be easy to guess who Giannis is rooting for to win the NBA Finals matchup between the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks (even though he is still close to Jason Kidd as well).
Jrue Holiday Never Played for the Portland Trailblazers After the Milwaukee Bucks Traded Him
As everyone knows, the Trailblazers had no intention of keeping Holiday. However, as he was still under contract, they could not afford to just release him. Therefore, they sought a trade for the two-time All-Star point guard, using a list of teams he gave them as his preferred destinations.
Eventually, Holiday was traded to the Boston Celtics for former Bucks guard Malcolm Brogdon, Robert Williams, and multiple first-round picks.
In his first season with Boston, Holiday averaged 12.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game. He was named Second Team All NBA Defense and finished sixth in Defensive Player of the Year voting.
Holiday also signed a four-year contract extension with the Celtics worth $134 million.
The Indiana Pacers Wanted to Trade for Former Milwaukee Bucks Guard Jrue Holiday
As mentioned previously, Holiday and his agent gave the Trailblazers a list of teams that he would be willing to play for. To their credit, the Blazers stuck to his list. There were plenty of teams calling, though, that were not on it.
According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, one of the Bucks’ biggest rivals, the Indiana Pacers, were one of the teams trying to acquire Holiday:
“When the call was over, there was a list of five or six teams. Portland was made aware, and the bidding commenced. Several teams armed with draft pick assets that would’ve been attractive to the Blazers called only to be told they weren’t on the list.
“This included the Pacers and the New York Knicks, teams that later made big in-season trades and had long playoff runs. But the Blazers stuck to Holiday’s list.”
Both of Holiday’s brothers played for the Pacers in the past.
For the sake of Bucks fans, it might be a good thing he did not Indiana on his list. Getting eliminated by Holiday in the first round would have been an even harder pill to swallow.
For More Great Wisconsin Sports Content
Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19 and follow us @WiSportsHeroics for more great content. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in Wisconsin sports, click here!
