NBA Trade Rumors: Wild 3-Team Deal Lands Celtics' Jrue Holiday in Detroit

The Boston Celtics are still a little busy with on-court matters, as they have their hands full with the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference semifinals, down 2-0. But already, there's buzz about what the Celtics will do to face their intense luxury tax crunch next season.

With Jayson Tatum's salary set to explode from $34M to $54 million next season, the team will be paying out over $500 million in salaries, a record amount. Something will have to be done, and we've already heard that trades by the Celtics are definitely on the horizon this summer to address that.

With that, Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report has proposed a deal that would send defensive stalwart Jrue Holiday to the Detroit Pistons as part of a wild three-team blockbuster proposal:

Detroit Pistons Receive:

G Jrue Holiday (from Celtics)
F Cam Johnson (from Nets)

Boston Celtics Receive:

F/C Isaiah Stewart (from Pistons)

Brooklyn Nets Receive:

F Tobias Harris (from Pistons)
F Sam Hauser (from Celtics)
G Marcus Sasser (from Pistons)
2026 first-round pick (top-five protected via Detroit)

For the Pistons, this deal could turn them into an immediate contender in the East, adding a six-time NBA All-Defensive Team guard in Holiday (though not quite the defensive beast he used to be, and turning 35 next month), and a top wing defender and three-point shooter (the ultimate 3-and-D forward) in Johnson.

For the Celtics, it would be painful to surrender such a critical part of their defense in Holiday, but they'd save $27.4M in this deal and get themselves out of the second (tax) apron. They would get back a feisty defender in the frontcourt, however, in this hypothetical trade, as Stewart is an elite rim protector. His per-36 minute average this season was 2.5 blocked shots and 10 rebounds.

The Nets, as they continue their rebuild, get a nice first-round draft pick, and assets in Harris and Hauser that they can further flip for more draft capital.