Latest news with #TrailBlazers
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Celtics trade Jrue Holiday to Portland. Who will they get in return?
The Portland Trail Blazers are reacquiring two-time All-Star guard Jrue Holiday from the Celtics, sending guard Anfernee Simons and two future second-round draft picks to Boston in return, ESPN reported on Monday night. Holiday, 35, who will earn $32.4 million next season, is owed a total of approximately $72 million in 2026-27 and 2027-28, after which his four-year, $134.4 million contract that he signed with the Celtics in April 2024 expires. Advertisement Meanwhile, the 26-year-old Simons joins the Celtics on an expiring contract. Per ESPN, the deal saves Boston $40 million in luxury tax payments next season. Mar 24, 2025; Sacramento, California, USA; Boston Celtics guard Jrue Holiday (4) dribbles the ball against the Sacramento Kings in the first quarter at the Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson/Imagn Images In 2023, Portland landed Holiday in a deal with the Milwaukee Bucks for Damian Lillard, then sent the 16-year veteran to Boston and acquired a pair of first-round picks. Holiday never played a game for the Blazers. Per the report, the Celtics are actively involved in trade talks involving multiple players on their roster following Jayson Tatum's Achilles tear in the second round of the playoffs. In his first season with the Celtics, Holiday played an instrumental role in the team's run to the NBA title, shooting a career-high 42.9 percent from 3-point range in 2023-24 and earning All-Defensive team honors. Advertisement Holiday was a first-round pick (No. 17 overall) of the Philadelphia 76ers in 2009. He has career averages of 15.8 points, 6.2 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 1.4 steals with the 76ers (2009-13), New Orleans Pelicans (2013-20), Bucks (2020-23) and Celtics in 1,037 games (956 starts). He won his first NBA title with Milwaukee in 2021 and is a six-time All-Defensive selection. Simons, 26, was also a first-round selection, picked at No. 24 by the Blazers in 2018. In seven seasons with Portland he posted 15.0 points, 3.3 assists and 2.5 rebounds over 389 games (213 starts). He should fit in with the Celtics' offensive approach, as he has averaged nearly nine 3-point attempts per game the last three seasons and is a career 38.1 percent shooter from distance. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Boston Celtics trade Jrue Holiday to Portland for Anfernee Simons
Washington Post
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
Trail Blazers see 7-1 Chinese center Yang Hansen as a unique and versatile talent
PORTLAND, Ore. — Yang Hansen is going to fit into American culture just fine. The Trail Blazers' 7-foot-1 Chinese center was introduced to Portland on Friday, and was asked about his interests. Turns out, he's already a gamer. 'Sometimes I sleep. All the time, sleep. I like to play PS5. And I like to eat,' Yang said, laughing.
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Trail Blazers see 7-2 Chinese center Yang Hansen as a unique and versatile talent
Hansen Yang greets NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected 16th by the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of the NBA basketball draft, Wednesday, June 25, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger) Portland Trail Blazers' Yang Hansen, of China, center, poses for a photo with general manager Joe Cronin, left, and head coach Chauncey Billups during an NBA basketball press conference, Friday, June 27, 2025, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane) Hansen Yang greets NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected 16th by the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of the NBA basketball draft, Wednesday, June 25, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger) Portland Trail Blazers' Yang Hansen, of China, center, poses for a photo with general manager Joe Cronin, left, and head coach Chauncey Billups during an NBA basketball press conference, Friday, June 27, 2025, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane) PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Yang Hansen is going to fit into American culture just fine. The Trail Blazers' 7-foot-1 Chinese center was introduced to Portland on Friday, and was asked about his interests. Turns out, he's already a gamer. Advertisement 'Sometimes I sleep. All the time, sleep. I like to play PS5. And I like to eat,' Yang said, laughing. Yang was the 16th pick in the NBA draft on Wednesday. While some were surprised that he went as early as he did, the Blazers had been scouting him for two years. Yang averaged 16.6 points and 10.5 rebounds last season for the Qingdao Eagles. He has played for the team in China's top pro league for the past two seasons. 'You can just tell he's been taught the right way. So a lot of things as a coach that I have to teach with young guys, I don't have to teach this kid,' Blazers coach Chauncey Billups said. 'He's been taught the right way, so I'm really excited about him, and it's going to be a lot of fun.' Advertisement Portland had the 11th pick in the draft but traded the draft rights to guard Cedric Coward to the Memphis Grizzlies for Yang's draft rights, a 2028 first-round pick, a 2027 second-round pick and a 2028 second-round pick. Blazers general manager Joe Cronin saw value in the deal and didn't want to risk dropping any lower for fear Yang would not be available. "This is a very, very unique talent, in our opinion. He obviously has great size at 7-2, young, just turns 20 tomorrow. High, high-end skillset, his ability to pass, his basketball IQ, his functionality in the post. His ability to step out. We think he'll be a good free-throw shooter, we think he'll make perimeter jump shots as well,' Cronin said. 'Defensively, he's a really smart player that can be pretty versatile in the post with his size and IQ." Yang, who was seated in the stands at the draft and had to make his way down to the stage when his name was called, said the comparisons he's heard to Nikola Jokic and fellow countryman Yao Ming are flattering. Advertisement 'I think the Baby Joker or being compared to Yao are a big honor,' Yang said through an interpreter. "I just try to learn from everyone, every good player, and try to improve myself every day.' ___ AP NBA:
Associated Press
15 hours ago
- Sport
- Associated Press
Trail Blazers see 7-2 Chinese center Yang Hansen as a unique and versatile talent
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Yang Hansen is going to fit into American culture just fine. The Trail Blazers' 7-foot-1 Chinese center was introduced to Portland on Friday, and was asked about his interests. Turns out, he's already a gamer. 'Sometimes I sleep. All the time, sleep. I like to play PS5. And I like to eat,' Yang said, laughing. Yang was the 16th pick in the NBA draft on Wednesday. While some were surprised that he went as early as he did, the Blazers had been scouting him for two years. Yang averaged 16.6 points and 10.5 rebounds last season for the Qingdao Eagles. He has played for the team in China's top pro league for the past two seasons. 'You can just tell he's been taught the right way. So a lot of things as a coach that I have to teach with young guys, I don't have to teach this kid,' Blazers coach Chauncey Billups said. 'He's been taught the right way, so I'm really excited about him, and it's going to be a lot of fun.' Portland had the 11th pick in the draft but traded the draft rights to guard Cedric Coward to the Memphis Grizzlies for Yang's draft rights, a 2028 first-round pick, a 2027 second-round pick and a 2028 second-round pick. Blazers general manager Joe Cronin saw value in the deal and didn't want to risk dropping any lower for fear Yang would not be available. 'This is a very, very unique talent, in our opinion. He obviously has great size at 7-2, young, just turns 20 tomorrow. High, high-end skillset, his ability to pass, his basketball IQ, his functionality in the post. His ability to step out. We think he'll be a good free-throw shooter, we think he'll make perimeter jump shots as well,' Cronin said. 'Defensively, he's a really smart player that can be pretty versatile in the post with his size and IQ.' Yang, who was seated in the stands at the draft and had to make his way down to the stage when his name was called, said the comparisons he's heard to Nikola Jokic and fellow countryman Yao Ming are flattering. 'I think the Baby Joker or being compared to Yao are a big honor,' Yang said through an interpreter. 'I just try to learn from everyone, every good player, and try to improve myself every day.' ___ AP NBA:
New York Post
a day ago
- Sport
- New York Post
Celtics' offseason makeover could include losing Al Horford
The Celtics have already lost two key players this offseason. They might be on their way to losing a third. The Celtics traded away Jrue Holiday to the Trail Blazers and Kristaps Porzingis to the Hawks this week to shed some money, and now, not re-signing Al Horford is a real possibility. Advertisement On Wednesday, ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania joined 'The Pat McAfee Show' to shed more light on the veteran forward, who is hitting free agency this offseason. Charania noted that Horford, 39, has 'a pretty robust free agency market.' Advertisement Al Horford looks on during the Knicks' series-clinching win over the Celtics on May 16, 2025 at Madison Square Garden. NBAE via Getty Images If the Celtics lose Horford, it would be another piece gone from the 2024 NBA championship-winning team. The forward has been in the league for 18 years, beginning his career with the Hawks after they drafted him third overall in 2007. He has had two stints with the Celtics, once between 2016-2019, and then again starting in 2021. Advertisement Mikal Bridges of the Knicks puts up a shot as Al Horford of the Celtics defends. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post As his age has increased, his production has decreased. Last season, he averaged 9.0 points while grabbing 6.2 rebounds per game, both of which were close to career lows. The Celtics are trying to avoid a massive luxury tax bill, so retaining Horford for more than they'd want to is unlikely. Advertisement The two trades already have saved the team $27 million in cap space for the upcoming season and helped bring them under the second apron. And with Jayson Tatum likely out for the entire year with an Achilles injury, it's unclear how the Celtics view this upcoming season.
