The Portland Trail Blazers managed to get a better deal on Jrue Holiday after his medical examination raised some concerns. What started as a trade sending Anfernee Simons and two second-round picks to Boston for Holiday has now become a straight player swap.
Why Did the Trail Blazers Renegotiate the Holiday Trade?
Trade alterations happen occasionally in the NBA when teams discover new information during the process. Holiday’s medical review with Portland revealed enough concerns for the Blazers to push for better terms, though nothing serious enough to kill the deal entirely.
The 35-year-old guard helped Boston win the 2024 NBA championship but struggled in the playoffs when the Celtics lost to the New York Knicks in the second round this past season. Holiday averaged 11.1 points and 4.3 rebounds during the 2024-25 regular season while shooting 44.3% from the field.
Boston originally planned to use those second-round picks to build for the future, but now they’re left with just the player swap. The Celtics clearly wanted to move Holiday’s contract, which still has two years remaining at roughly $30 million per season.
Aaron J. Fentress, who covers Portland for The Oregonian, broke the news about the revised trade terms. He revealed more on this update.
“The Portland Trail Blazers trade with the Boston Celtics has been reduced to a straight player swap without the previously reported two second-round picks going to the Celtics, a league source has told The Oregonian/OregonLive. According to the source, a recent review of Holiday’s medicals revealed nothing substantial enough to warrant the trade being negated.”
The Portland Trail Blazers trade with the Boston Celtics has been reduced to a straight player swap without the previously reported two second-round picks going to the Celtics, a league source has told The Oregonian/OregonLive.
According to the source, a recent review of… pic.twitter.com/P5KzBABg1h
— Aaron J. Fentress (@AaronJFentress) July 7, 2025
Fentress added that “Holiday, the source said, is considered to be healthy and will be working out this summer in preparation for the start of training camp near the end of September.
What Medical Issues Did Holiday’s Examination Reveal?
The exact details remain unclear, but reports suggest Holiday’s mallet finger injury on his right pinkie played a role in the medical concerns. He dealt with this injury during Boston’s playoff run but continued playing through the pain after sustaining the injury in late February during a game against the Detroit Pistons.
Holiday appeared in 62 regular season games for the Celtics in 2024-25. His durability has been solid throughout his 15-year NBA career, missing significant time only due to a few major injuries, such as when he missed 41 games during the 2013-2014 season after undergoing surgery for a stress fracture in his right ibia.
The finger injury didn’t seem to affect his shooting dramatically during the playoffs, where he shot 34.6% from three-point range across 8 games. However, medical staff often discover issues during thorough examinations that weren’t apparent during game action.
Portland’s medical team clearly found something worth negotiating over, even if it wasn’t serious enough to scrap the trade completely. Teams routinely use medical findings as leverage in trade discussions, especially when dealing with veteran players.
The Blazers now keep their two future second-round picks while still landing a proven veteran who can help mentor their young roster. Holiday brings championship experience and defensive expertise to a rebuilding team that finished 36-46 in 2024-25.
Training camp starts in late September, giving Holiday plenty of time to address any lingering health concerns. The veteran guard should be ready to contribute immediately for Portland when the 2025-26 season begins in October.
