Celtics Fans Reflect on End of an Era After Kristaps Porzingis, Jrue Holiday Trades

The Boston Celtics are reportedly finalizing a trade to send Kristaps Porziņģis to the Atlanta Hawks in a three-team deal also involving the Brooklyn Nets, per ESPN's Shams Charania.

That deal occurred one day after the C's traded Jrue Holiday to the Portland Trail Blazers for Anfernee Simons and a pair of second-round draft picks.

Two starters and key pieces from the 2023-24 Celtics, who won 80 total games en route to the franchise's 18th NBA championship, are now gone.

Both players were in Boston for two seasons.

Holiday was an NBA All-Defensive Second Team member in 2023-24 and notably averaged 13.2 points, 6.1 rebounds and 4.4 assists during Boston's playoff run that year. He's a two-time NBA champion after previously winning a title with the 2020-21 Bucks. Holiday was an excellent fit on Boston, a solid two-way player who astutely led the Celtic offense and dominated on defense.

Porziņģis averaged 19.8 points on 50.2 percent shooting, 7.0 rebounds and 1.8 blocks over his two years in Boston. Unfortunately, his time in town was cut short due to injuries, and he played just 99 regular season games and notably seven during the 2023-24 championship run. Still, he notably helped lead the Celtics to a pair of dominant regular seasons as the team's third scoring option, especially in 2023-24.

Ultimately, the Celtics are salary slashing at this point to remove themselves from the CBA's dreaded second apron.

Following the trades, fans and analysts reflected on the end of an era in town.

Boston doesn't appear to be a top title contender in 2025-26 with four-time All-NBA First Teamer Jayson Tatum presumably out for the year with a torn right Achilles tendon suffered in May during the NBA playoffs.

Of course, there's still plenty of talent left on the roster, with Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, Payton Pritchard and now Simons still capable of leading the Celtics to great heights.

In the meantime, though, this Celtics team is going to look much different next year without Holiday and Porziņģis now out of town.