After Jrue Holiday expressed that he didn’t want to play for Portland Trail Blazers , the Trail Blazers offered him to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Devin Booker….

**BLOCKBUSTER NBA TRADE DRAMA: After Jrue Holiday Rejects Portland, Trail Blazers Offer Him to Phoenix Suns in Shocking Devin Booker Trade Proposal**

 

In what could go down as one of the boldest trade maneuvers in recent NBA history, the **Portland Trail Blazers** have reportedly offered veteran All-Star **Jrue Holiday** to the **Phoenix Suns** in exchange for superstar guard **Devin Booker**. The move comes just days after Holiday, acquired in a multi-team trade involving the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks last season, **made it clear he had no intention of suiting up for Portland.**

The situation has evolved quickly, catching both fanbases and league executives off guard. While trade talks between teams are standard off-season procedure, the scale and star power involved in this specific deal have sent shockwaves throughout the league.

—

## 🏀 **How Did We Get Here? The Jrue Holiday Dilemma**

The Trail Blazers acquired Jrue Holiday as part of the fallout from the **Damian Lillard trade saga** in 2023. Holiday, a respected two-way guard with championship pedigree, was seen as a temporary asset in Portland’s ongoing rebuild.

However, from the moment he landed in Rip City, there were whispers that **Holiday had no desire to remain in Portland**, particularly given the team’s youth-focused roster and long-term rebuilding goals. Though he remained professional throughout the 2023–24 season, sources close to Holiday say he had privately voiced a desire to join a **championship-ready roster** in a market that could maximize his remaining prime years.

Following the conclusion of the 2024–25 season, during which the Trail Blazers missed the playoffs for the third straight year, Holiday reportedly **met with GM Joe Cronin and head coach Chauncey Billups** to formally express his disinterest in staying with the team.

> **“It’s not personal,”** one source quoted Holiday as saying. **“It’s just not the right fit. I want to win now.”**

—

## 🔁 **The Trade Proposal: Jrue Holiday for Devin Booker**

Rather than facilitating a traditional multi-team deal or shopping Holiday for draft capital and young talent, the Trail Blazers stunned observers by **contacting the Phoenix Suns** with a direct and ambitious proposal:

> **Jrue Holiday + 2026 first-round pick (top-5 protected)**
> **IN EXCHANGE FOR**
> **Devin Booker**

To most, the Suns’ initial reaction was obvious: a hard pass. After all, Booker is the franchise cornerstone and arguably one of the top 10 players in the league. However, insiders suggest the Suns’ front office didn’t **outright reject** the proposal.

—

## 🔎 **Why the Suns Are Even Entertaining It**

On the surface, trading Devin Booker—a 4x All-Star and fan-favorite—for a 34-year-old guard and a future pick seems like a non-starter. But sources inside Phoenix’s camp suggest some cracks may be forming:

1. **Internal Frustration**: After failing to advance past the second round of the playoffs for three consecutive years, some in the Suns’ front office are questioning whether their **Booker-Durant-Beal trio** is viable long-term.

2. **Booker’s Contract Timeline**: While Booker is under contract through 2028, there have been **quiet murmurs** about his long-term interest in staying with Phoenix—especially if the team fails to make deep playoff runs.

3. **Defensive Concerns**: The Suns ranked near the bottom in defensive efficiency during the 2024–25 season. Adding a defensive maestro like Holiday could stabilize the backcourt, particularly alongside a healthy Bradley Beal.

4. **Front Office Shake-Up**: Phoenix’s new President of Basketball Operations, **Trajan Langdon**, is reportedly open to reshaping the roster in unconventional ways.

> **“Holiday may not match Booker’s scoring,”** said an anonymous league executive, **“but he brings elite leadership, championship experience, and defense—things Phoenix lacked when it mattered most.”**

—

## 💣 **What This Could Mean for the League**

If this trade were to happen, it would send **ripples through the entire NBA**, particularly in the hyper-competitive Western Conference.

### ✔️ If Phoenix Accepts:

* They would **rebuild defensively** and create a more balanced backcourt with Holiday and Beal.
* Likely to restructure their offensive strategy around **Kevin Durant** (who turns 37 this year) and complementary scorers.
* Devin Booker would leave Phoenix—**potentially ending a 10-year chapter** with the franchise that drafted him in 2015.

### ✔️ If Portland Lands Booker:

* The Trail Blazers instantly jumpstart their rebuild with a **top-tier offensive superstar**.
* Pairing Booker with rising talents like **Scoot Henderson, Shaedon Sharpe**, and **Anfernee Simons** would give Portland **one of the youngest and most dynamic backcourts in the league**.
* Could potentially lure more free agents to join a reinvigorated franchise.

—

## 🤝 **How Fans Are Reacting**

**Phoenix Suns fans** have taken to social media in an uproar, with many rejecting any notion of trading Booker:

> *“Booker is the heart and soul of the Suns. You don’t trade that for anyone—even Jrue Holiday.”* – @SunsFaithful

**Portland fans**, on the other hand, are cautiously optimistic:

> *“If we somehow land Booker, that’s a win for the next 10 years. Scoot + Booker is scary.”* – @BlazersTruth

Polls conducted online show **74% of Suns fans oppose the trade**, while **63% of Blazers fans support it**.

—

## 🎙️ What the Experts Are Saying

**Brian Windhorst (ESPN)**:

> “It’s aggressive from Portland—and honestly smart. They’re offering a proven winner and a valuable pick. It’s not enough on its own, but it’s a starting point.”

**Adrian Wojnarowski (ESPN)**:

> “The Suns are exploring multiple roster options. That doesn’t mean Booker is available, but it means they’re listening—which in itself is huge.”

**Shams Charania (The Athletic)**:

> “There’s zero indication Phoenix is shopping Booker. But there’s always a price, especially if that price clears cap space and resets timelines.”

—

## 🔮 What Happens Next?

According to league insiders, talks between the Suns and Trail Blazers are **still ongoing**, with the following possible next steps:

* Phoenix could **counter** the offer, requesting **Anfernee Simons** or **Shaedon Sharpe** be included along with Jrue and the pick.
* Portland could explore **multi-team trade options** to increase return value for Phoenix.
* Jrue Holiday might be redirected elsewhere if Booker negotiations stall, with **Miami**, **Philadelphia**, and **San Antonio** reportedly interested.

—

## 🔔 Final Thoughts

The potential Jrue Holiday-for-Devin Booker trade may never materialize—but the **fact that it’s even on the table** speaks volumes about the NBA’s ever-shifting landscape. No player is untouchable anymore. Every team is looking for that perfect formula. And every offseason seems to deliver a shock.

For now, fans in Portland dare to dream. Suns fans are on edge. And Jrue Holiday waits, wondering where his next chapter will be written.

One thing is certain: **this story is far from over**.