The Portland Trail Blazers were expected to trade Anfernee Simons this past offseason, but they shocked the NBA world by acquiring an aging star in Jrue Holiday. Many questioned how Holiday's age (35) and expensive contract ($32.4 million this season) would align with Portland's rebuilding timeline. Some even wondered if Portland would flip Holiday yet again.
While the Blazers are viewed as a team that could be active leading up to the Feb. 5 trade deadline, there's been no indication that Holiday is a player they are actively exploring trades for. And suddenly, their win-now trade makes much more sense.
Jrue Holiday could be the missing piece for Blazers' postseason return
Holiday has finally returned from his calf strain, missing almost two entire months from what was a quiet, mysterious, and frustrating lingering injury. Yet the injury-riddled Blazers played relatively well without him, staying afloat in the Western Conference playoff race with a 19-21 record.
Their play without Holiday, particularly Deni Avdija's All-Star-level performance, should make the Blazers feel more comfortable about their decision to trade for Holiday. They're proving they can win without their star guard, meaning this could potentially be a postseason team as soon as this season with him now back in the equation.
Of course, that still depends on other various factors. Right now, the primary concern is Avdija's health, as Portland's rising star exited the contest in their final minutes against the New York Knicks with a lower back injury. Even if Avdija's injury turns out to be relatively minor, Portland will also have to figure out how best to integrate Holiday into the existing offensive hierarchy. Avdija stepped up as a point-forward in Holiday's absence, leaving questions regarding who will be the primary ball-handler and offensive initiator going forward.
Still, this is an excellent problem for Portland to have. Fans have been waiting for their team to have too many reliable options to choose from, as the Blazers have had to grind out victories with whatever lineup combinations they could glue together that night. With their roster finally getting healthier -- and the Western Conference suddenly not looking as deep as many initially perceived it to be -- the Blazers are in a prime position to end a four-year playoff drought.
That puts them in a good spot leading up to the trade deadline. The Blazers could potentially be buyers, looking for more depth or trying to address their shooting woes. At the same time, they have the luxury of not forcing the issue if the right opportunity doesn't present itself.
But one thing is clear: they shouldn't be sellers. Not when it comes to Jrue Holiday, at least.
The Blazers viewed him as the piece to help them get back to the playoffs, and that's precisely what he can be for this team in the second half of the season. With the level Avdija, Toumani Camara, and Donovan Clingan have been playing at as of late, the primary roadblock for this team's playoff chances is their question marks in the backcourt. Holiday coming back should help address that concern, and exploring trades for their guard would leave them vulnerable in what is already a shallow backcourt.
Portland has won seven of its last nine games and has legitimate momentum in 2026. They need to continue building off that by keeping one of their best players around past February.