Trail Blazers general manager Joe Cronin received criticism when Portland acquired Jrue Holiday from the Boston Celtics this past offseason. Holiday is a clear upgrade over Anfernee Simons from both a talent and impact on winning standpoint, even at this stage in his career. However, many still questioned why a rebuilding Blazers team made an aggressive win-now trade.
There were concerns surrounding Holiday's contract, age, and injury history. He's currently the highest-paid player on Portland's roster, owed $32.4 million this season with a $37.2 million player option in 2027-28 -- at which point he'll be 37.
Unfortunately, we even saw some downsides to that risk when the Blazers' aging star missed roughly two months with a lingering calf strain. But the Blazers were able to stay afloat in the Western Conference, overcoming adversity with such a key piece sidelined for far longer than initially expected. And in those 12 games prior to injury, Holiday proved that his perceived "declining play" in Boston was more due to a combination of injuries and a diminished role in a crowded backcourt.
Jrue Holiday is the bridge Portland's backcourt needs
Now, we're finally seeing Cronin's vision behind this trade come to fruition. It wasn't even necessarily a win-now move, as Holiday is helping put the Blazers in an ideal spot both now and in the future. The short-term impact is obvious with his averages of 15.7 points, 7.6 assists, and 5.2 rebounds per game this season. But what many overlook is that this was also a move to improve the Blazers' future outlook.
Holiday's veteran mentorship is proving to be invaluable for a young Blazers team, especially one that shockingly lost its head coach after just one game into the regular season. Additionally, he's aiding the development of Scoot Henderson, not just through mentorship but also by serving as a bridge.
Scoot no longer has all the immediate pressure to take over the keys to Portland's backcourt, which he may or may not have been ready for this season. Now, the Blazers' 21-year-old guard has a much more likely path to success, earning the keys to the backcourt when they confidently know he's ready for such a role.
Henderson is still on his own developmental timeline, which no longer perfectly aligns with the Blazers' rebuilding timeline. That's become even more apparent this season, with Henderson unfortunately still sidelined with a hamstring injury. The rest of Portland's young core has already taken a significant leap this season, proving they are ready to get back to the postseason.
That's where Holiday comes in as the much-needed bridge, allowing the majority of their young core to take that leap they're ready for while providing Henderson with more time to catch up.