Last offseason, the Boston Celtics shocked the NBA world by acquiring Kristaps Porzingis from the Washington Wizards. Initially, it was a three-time trade that also included the Los Angeles Clippers. In the trade, the Celtics would have shipped out then reigning Sixth Man of the Year recipient Malcolm Brogdon to Los Angeles. However, the trade fell through and the Celtics pivoted. Instead, the team traded fan-favorite Marcus Smart to the Memphis Grizzlies. At the time, it appeared the Celtics traded Smart as an emergency backup plan to the failed Brogdon trade. However, this no longer seems to be the case. According to Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer, the Celtics were always planning on trading Smart, just not like this. Instead, the Celtics would have sent Smart to Memphis in a separate deal to land point guard Tyus Jones.
“At the time, many Celtics fans were crushed. Smart was a lifelong Celtic and a fan favorite. It hurt that the team dealt him instead of Brogdon, especially for a player as injury prone as Porzingis. But there’s a detail missing from that initial saga: Sources from around the league say that once that KP for Brogdon deal was complete, Smart still would have been sent to the Grizzlies for Tyus Jones and two firsts.”
Jones ended up going to Washington in the final Porzingis trade. In his first season with the Wizards, the Duke product averaged 12 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 7.3 assists per game. All are career highs for Jones.
Boston Celtics Nearly Acquired Former First-Rounder Last Summer
Acquiring Tyus Jones Means the Celtics Likely Do Not End Up With Jrue Holiday
In another shocking trade, the Celtics acquired guard Jrue Holiday from the Portland Trail Blazers in October 2023. Holiday had just been shipped out by the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for Damian Lillard. Ultimately, despite numerous suitors, the Celtics were the team to land the two-time All-Star. If the Celtics did acquire Jones, it would be unlikely they also would have landed Holiday. Instead, the Celtics would have had Jones, Brogdon, Derrick White, and Payton Pritchard as their main guards.
Luckily for the Celtics, the trade for Holiday proved to be worth it. In part due to Holiday’s contributions all season, the Celtics won their first NBA title since 2008. Furthermore, in April, Holiday signed a four-year, $135 million contract extension with Boston.
The Last Word
Although Jones is a good NBA player and is fresh off a career year, Celtics fans should be happy with the way everything panned out. The Celtics were title contenders even before trading for Holiday. However, it is fair to think Holiday helped bump them up to another level. His ability to impact the game in every aspect on the court is irreplaceable. Furthermore, his mindset as a team player helped the Celtics get over the hump and finally bring another title to Boston.
“I’m a utility guy,” said Holiday, and if that is all he is, consider him the best player in the NBA in that role. “I’ll do whatever. I’m here to win. I feel like they brought me here to win, and I’ll do my best to do that.”
