PORTLAND, Ore. — When the Bucks and Trail Blazers shocked the NBA world shortly before training camps opened up, Portland wasn’t done dealing. The Blazers traded star guard Damian Lillard to Milwaukee as the returning package included guard Jrue Holiday.
After the trade, there was speculation when it came to Holiday’s final destination. The 33-year-old was fit for a contender at that point in his career, not a rebuilding roster in Portland. While Holiday was in limbo, Blazers coach Chauncey Billups revealed he had a long conversation with the guard.
“It was a little tough spot for him, getting traded,” Billups said pregame before the Celtics beat the Blazers. “Kind of being blindsided by that. I’ve been there. So just being able to talk with him like that because I know him. And it was for important for me that a good person like him, who’s been great on every team and every community, for him to be treated properly.”
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Of course, Holiday’s tenure as a Blazer was short-lived, as expected. Just days after getting sent to Portland, he was rerouted to the Celtics for Robert Williams, Malcolm Brogdon and draft compensation. The C’s swooped in to upgrade their backcourt and get another stout defensive guard.
But Billups mentioned the pain of an unexpected trade, which he went through during his own lengthy playing career. The No. 1 message Billups said he told Holiday was to stay professional in the immediate aftermath of a deal.
“You can be very emotional in a situation like that where you’re blindsided,” Billups said. “You say some things you can’t take back and act a way that you can’t take back. And also, whenever you get to the place where you’re going, just be who you are. Don’t show that hurt or that emotion you just have to go through. Because wherever you show up, that’s going to be how they judge you.”
Holiday has settled in nicely as part of the Celtics’ talented starting lineup. His counting stats have naturally taken a dip, but he hasn’t complained at all as the team’s messaging has been about sacrifice. So it all worked out in the end for Holiday, even though, right before the trade, he said he wanted to finish his career in Milwaukee.
“The biggest thing I think is not a lot of people have actually been through that, that can talk through that,” Billups said. “So wanted to hear him out, understanding that I know how feels, I know where he’s at in his career. He’s not like 25. It was actually a really good conversation that we were able to have. Obviously I didn’t know where it would end up. Our intention was to make sure he was going to be a great position, a great situation.”
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