Adding Jrue Holiday should make Celtics the favorite in Eastern Conference

The Celtics traded disgruntled guard Malcolm Brogdon, center Robert Williams, a 2024 first from Golden State and their own unprotected 2029 first-rounder for Holiday, shoring up its defense in the frontcourt after trading Marcus Smart to the Grizzlies earlier in the offseason.

Boston added center Kristaps Porzingis in that Smart deal, remaking a team on the fly that was a win away from the NBA Finals a year ago.

All-NBA pros Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown remain, and a core with Holiday, Porzingis, Tatum and Brown is up there with the best in basketball.

Holiday has been named to the NBA All-Defensive team five times, including First Team designations in 2017-18, 2020-21 and 2022-23.

When Milwaukee traded for Holiday in 2020, it won the NBA title the following season. He could have the same type of impact in Boston.

Porzingis (plantar fasciitis) participated in a team scrimmage this past week with reports suggesting he's healing well from his injury.

Per Bleacher Report, Boston (+390) trails Milwaukee (+370) for the best odds of winning the NBA title. 

Earlier this week, the Bucks landed Damian Lillard in a three-team deal that sent Holiday to the Trail Blazers.  

Lillard’s addition is huge for the Bucks, but the Celtics have the No. 1 Lillard stopper. 

During the 2017-18 playoffs, Holiday, then a member of the New Orleans Pelicans, shut down Lillard and the Trail Blazers in a four-game sweep. Lillard finished that series averaging 18.5 points per game on 35.2 percent shooting (30 percent from deep.)

Things might be more challenging if the two teams meet during the 2023-24 playoffs, but Boston has the pieces to make life difficult for the Bucks and thrilling for NBA fans.