NBA Trades: 5 winners and losers of the Celtics-Blazers Jrue Holiday deal

By Cal Durrett | Oct 2, 2023

NBA Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics handles the ball against Jrue Holiday #21 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the third quarter in Game Seven of the 2022 NBA Playoffs Eastern Conference Semifinals at TD Garden on May 15, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /

5 of 6

NBA Trade Losers: Miami Heat

What a difference a week makes for the Heat! Last week, it seemed inevitable that they were going to trade for Lillard. Now, Lillard is a member of the Bucks, giving a team the Heat beat in the playoffs last season a massive upgrade. Even worse, the Blazers shipped Holiday to another Heat rival, the Celtics. It’s almost as if the Blazers are trolling Miami.

Whether they are or aren’t is irrelevant at this point. What is relevant is that Miami hasn’t gotten better while the two best regular-season teams from last season did. The Heat are at risk of falling behind next season unless another star becomes available.

That remains a possibility, but something that they can’t exactly bank on as they ramp up for the start of the 2023–24 regular season. Last season, they struggled during the year, which is why they ended up as the eighth seed. They did go on an incredible playoff run, but that may be next to impossible now with the Bucks and Celtics clearly better. Not good for Miami.

Home/Boston Celtics