Boston Celtics Land Jrue Holiday (after a pit stop in Portland) and Dame to the Bucks — in East Shake Up

The Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks will have to wait seven months until the Eastern Conference Finals arrive. The preseason has yet to officially begin. But both franchises made pivotal deals within the last few days. Point guard and defensive wizard Jrue Holiday was at the center of both trades.

On September 27th, Damian Lillard’s NBA purgatory ended when the Portland Trail Blazers agreed to a three-way-deal with the Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns, sending Dame to Milwaukee, Jusuf Nurkic and Nassir Little to Phoenix, and receiving Jrue Holiday from the Bucks and DeAndre Ayton from the Suns. As the trade rippled through the NBA landscape, Milwaukee was anointed the favorites to win the title. Everyone began to wonder where Jrue Holiday would actually end up. The Blazers are clearly rebuilding around their three young guards (Scoot Henderson, Shaedon Sharpe and Anfernee Simons). Where would the 5-time All-Defensive-Teamer end up?

As people gave their immediate Dame and Giannis dream duo takes, Jrue was now in limbo. Many speculated the Miami Heat, who had been eyeing Lillard since Dame’s June trade request, would now focus on Holiday.

On Sunday, the Celtics ended up landing Holiday, beating out possible suitors Miami, Philadelphia and the Clippers.

Boston dealt dynamic center Robert Williams, guard Malcom Brogdon, a 2024 first-round pick (via Golden State)…