The Portland Trail Blazers have traded guard Anfernee Simons to the Boston Celtics for Jrue Holiday. It was one of those rare deals that had no foreshadowing, not a hint of a rumor. Just as Blazers fans were preparing to debate the 11th pick in this week’s 2025 NBA Draft on an otherwise-innocuous Monday night, ESPN’s Shams Charania flew over the Portland metro area like a megalith seagull, dropping the news on unsuspecting the domes of Portland’s faithful.
The surprise accompanying this exchange might be credited to Blazers General Manager Joe Cronin and his front office.