2023 NBA Offseason Overview Part 2: Jrue Holiday and Ayton's future

 2023 NBA Offseason Overview Part 2: Jrue Holiday and Ayton's future 

Deandre Ayton has been under scrutiny since he entered the league as the first pick in 2018 ahead of names such as Luka Doncic. Some of this is valid, as in the post season ayton averages just over 13 points down 4% on field goal percent. 

Although some of this may be his fault, expecially playing with a world class passer like chris paul, aytons play style in college as a throwback dominant big man means he requires the ball in his hands to create shots for himself when during his time with the suns it was openly known the coaching wanted him to play a more modern off the ball rebounding big man. I expect that in portland were he isnt the 4th option he has the oppertunity to reach the pottenial he was projected, being the 1st pick. I would hope to see his usage percent jump from around 20 percent to just bellow 30.

As a side note this is a good trade from both sides, as Nurkic is less ball dominant and fits what pheonix need from the 5.

Another crucial deal surrounding portland is the shipping of jrue holiday, previously acquired in the dame trade, to boston. With the trade looking like this. 

PORTLAND: GS 2024 FRP, BOS 2029 FRP, MALCUM BROGDEN AND ROBERT WILLIAMS III

BOSTON: JRUE HOLIDAY

First off this is a great return for portland who, including assets from the original trade, are left with a haul for their star.

It will be intresting to see how portland plan to play robert williams next to ayton as neither of them space the floor particularly well which could lead to problems however robert williams is more of a lob threat than post-up big so it could lead to an intresting dynamic.

 What rob williams does provide is elite defensive big man skills. Something which any team needs and makes him a good asset both now and down the line.

Malcum brogden also adds an intresting element to this deal as someome who could pottenitally be flipped down the line for more young assets/picks. But as it stands portland have secured themselves last years 6MOTY as their backup guard. Which stands them in an excellent postition for their rebuild.

From a Boston perspective what this does is makes them the concencous number one team to come out of the east.

Despite losing some depth they still remain a deep team keeping derrick white and signing payton pritchard to a new 30m 3 year deal.

As well as this they now have the best defensive guard of our generation at the point aswell as someone who consistently creates offense for himself and those around him.

When you take this and the recent aquisition of Kristpas Porzingas who many have forgotten is a legitmate 7'3 floor spacing shot blocker and someone who can create his own shot on all 3 levels.

Combine this with an all nba jaylen brown and jason tatum coming off an MVP candidate seasom its hard not to look at this team and see championship written all over it.

But as with many teams it could all come down to health when looking at the ceiling of this team.