Here’s what’s happening: the Lakers are reportedly targeting a two-time NBA champion and former Boston Celtic—Jrue Holiday— as a potential trade option to strengthen their roster around Luka Dončić and LeBron James.
🔍 Who is the target?
- Jrue Holiday won NBA titles with both the Milwaukee Bucks (2021) and the Boston Celtics (2024).
- The Lakers are reportedly eyeing Holiday to bolster their perimeter defense and add veteran playmaking. He’s widely respected for his elite on-ball defense and clutch shooting, with a career 37% three-point percentage .
🤝 Why Holiday makes sense—with Luka
- Luka Doncic himself has praised Holiday, calling him “one of the best, if not the best guard defender” he’s faced. He noted Holiday doesn’t always get enough recognition for that, especially on the defensive end .
- That praise signals Luka’s direct endorsement of Holiday’s fit alongside him—knowing Holiday’s defensive acumen can help cover the weaknesses in Luka’s own perimeter defense.
🏀 What Holiday brings to the Lakers
- Elite perimeter defense: Holiday could immediately upgrade LA’s guard defense, complementing newly signed Marcus Smart and swapping in guard help against dynamic Western Conference offenses.
- Veteran leadership: At 35, he brings Finals experience, locker-room stability, and professionalism—a strong foil to the Lakers’ younger stars.
- Spacing and shooting: A consistent 3-point shooter and secondary playmaker, he would relieve pressure on Luka and LeBron on offensive initiations .
🧩 The trade landscape
- Jrue Holiday currently plays for the Portland Trail Blazers, a team leaning into youth after adding Damian Lillard. LA sees him as a tradable veteran whose contract might appeal to teams building for the future .
- While no formal trade talks have been confirmed, his name “continues to surface in NBA circles” as the Lakers evaluate veteran upgrades around their stars .
🧾 Significance & strategy
- The Lakers already reshaped their roster by acquiring Luka Doncic in a sweeping three-team deal on February 2, 2025, sending Anthony Davis to Dallas—an unprecedented trade of two All‑NBA players mid-season .
- Since then, the front office has also added Marcus Smart, another former Celtic known for his defensive intensity, via a buyout and two-year $11M deal—Smart has credited Luka’s recruitment as a key factor in his decision .
📊 Lakers’ defensive vision
- Pairing Holiday’s defensive leadership, Smart’s tenacity, and Rui Hachimura’s length, the Lakers could tape over one of Luka’s few weaknesses: perimeter defense.
- Luka’s game thrives on spacing and movement; Holiday would also help as a catch-and-shoot threat while guarding elite wings across the league.
Summary (400 words approx.)
The Lakers’ pursuit of Jrue Holiday, a two-time NBA champion and former Boston Celtic, fits a clear strategic pattern. Holiday offers elite perimeter defense, championship-tested leadership, and secondary playmaking—attributes Luka Doncic himself has praised and that the Lakers now prioritize around their evolving core. With Luka and LeBron leading a reimagined roster, adding Holiday (possibly via trade from Portland) would sharpen their identity as both a high-scoring offense and a tenacious defensive team. The move would complement recent additions like Marcus Smart and symbolized the Lakers’ aggressive approach this offseason to build a true title contender .
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