The Damian Lillard and Jrue Holiday trade was perhaps the biggest topic heading into the start of the 2023-24 season. Despite rumors all but confirming Damian Lillard’s departure to the Miami Heat, fans were surprised when the Milwaukee Bucks announced they had acquired Dame in a three-way deal with the Portland Trail Blazers and Phoenix Suns. Jrue Holiday was initially traded to the Portland Trail Blazers. However, Portland traded him to the Celtics for Malcolm Brogdon, Robert Williams III and a 2024 first-round pick from the Golden State Warriors.
Jrue Holiday had established himself as one of the central players of the Milwaukee Bucks. Spending three seasons with the franchise, Holiday was a crucial piece in the Bucks’ 2021 championship campaign alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo. However, during a recent appearance on the Draymond Green ShowThe 14-year veteran expressed his disappointment with the way he was traded from Milwaukee.
Holiday revealed that he was taking a nap before hearing the news that he had been traded. He had received a call from Bucks general manager Jon Horst trying to reach him with the news. However, Holiday was fast asleep and therefore could not receive Horst’s calls. Later, Holiday’s agent called him and broke the news about his deal. After this, the veteran point guard called the Bucks general manager, only to get confirmation that he had been traded for Damian Lillard.
“I ended up calling him and he [Jon Horst] I ended up saying, ‘Yeah, we traded you for Damian Lillard.'” Holiday told Draymond Green. The 2021 NBA champion had no idea about this news. Just days after expressing his desire to remain with the Bucks, it was disappointing for Holiday to land on a different team overnight without any prior knowledge.
added holidays, “I think it was a shock to me because at least he gave me 24 hours notice, not 5 minutes notice. And maybe I’m asking too much. It’s kind of like, I mean, we won, I won there!
Holiday currently plays for a title-contending Celtics team that boasts an incredible 57-14 record in the league.
This is the best record of any team this season in the NBA, and much can be attributed to the elite defensive guard’s contributions to his new team.
Jrue Holiday’s wife was very disappointed with the Bucks for trading her husband
Jrue Holiday’s wife, Lauren Holiday, was completely disappointed in the Milwaukee Bucks for trading her husband for Damian Lillard without even warning. Jrue and his wife had openly expressed their desire to remain in Milwaukee. However, this was a huge shock to the couple’s plans for their and their family’s future. In an emotional Instagram post, Lauren wrote after the exchange:
“Thank you Milwaukee for making our lives infinitely better on this beautiful journey. Next stop, Boston, I can’t wait to see the world we create together.
The Instagram post contained a message from the Holiday family where they wrote: “It’s not personal, it’s business.” Lauren clarified that the family had no hard feelings toward the Bucks organization over the trade. However, it was quite unfortunate that Holiday was traded so abruptly despite establishing himself as a solid core on the first team.
