Raptors’ ascent up the Eastern Conference standings just became more difficultThe Eastern Conference was already having a difficult summer.
The Boston Celtics have acquired Jrue Holiday, who joins Jayson Tatum, Jalen Brown, Derrick White, and Kristaps Porzingis in a lineup that already smelled like a championship contender. Of course, that fragrance was present even before the trade.
The Celts did part ways with talented sixth man Malcolm Brogdon and potential but frequently injured centre Robert Williams, but with Holiday they have replaced the defensive stopper they lost in Marcus Smart.
The increase in professionalism that comes with Holiday is almost certainly a component. Despite Smart’s popularity and his significant contributions to the Celtics’ success, there always seemed to be an excess of drama when Smart was present. The exact reverse is true of Holiday; she is a low-key celebrity who settles the waves in rough seas rather than upsetting the boat in the first place.
It’s another obstacle in the way for the Toronto Raptors, who will have media day on Monday before departing for training camp in Vancouver.
The Bucks improved when Damian Lillard joined Giannis Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee. The Celtics are now better thanks to Holiday, who was effectively the price of luring Lillard away from Portland.
In a busy off-season that saw Bradley Beal join Kevin Durant in Phoenix, Devin Booker and Chris Paul leave Phoenix to join Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green, although Green’s injury sounds like it will keep him out for at least a month of the season, the Holiday trade is either the last or the next-to-last piece to move.
James Harden might still be leaving Philadelphia, but the terms of the trade and the nature of the player-team connection seem much less clear-cut.
However, only in the East, the top teams appear to have made additions, whereas the middle-of-the-pack teams and lesser lights made concessions.
The Knicks appear to be rebuilding the Villanova college success story with Donte DiVincenzo joining Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart, while the Cavaliers added Max Struss and Georges Niang. Only the Miami Heat, the reigning Eastern Conference champion, failed to make a significant upgrade among the conference elite, which is hilarious because the expectation entering the summer was that they would get Lillard.
In any case, throughout the off-season, the wealthy became significantly wealthier, and clubs like the Raptors were unable to keep up. The loss of starting point guard Fred VanVleet significantly outweighed all of the Raptors’ gains, including increased depth brought about by the additions of Jalen McDaniels and Garrett Temple Jr. as well as the selection of Gradey Dick.
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