The Path Blazers launched Jrue Vacation on Tuesday morning in Portland, the place he expressed pleasure a couple of distinctive problem and appreciated the Celtics for giving him a heads-up that they’d commerce him this offseason. Boston acquired Anfernee Simons within the deal, who’s but to obtain a uniform quantity or introduction himself from the Celtics.
“I used to be at dwelling in California. I ended up getting a name from Brad, and he ended up telling me slightly bit earlier than,” Vacation stated. “I used to be excited. I knew that clearly I acquired traded right here earlier than, so it was sort of full circle, speaking to Chauncey (Billups) about it, speaking to Joe (Cronin) about it and I actually do respect what they did the primary time round. “That basically (did) imply quite a bit for me and my profession. I do know this time round, simply speaking to them, they’re simply sort of like, ‘I acquired one other probability to get you,’ and so they thought that I’d be an excellent piece right here. So excited to be right here.”
Brad Stevens additionally defined that he ready Vacation, Kristaps Porziņģis and their brokers for the likelihood that they might depart Boston this offseason. They understood as veterans, he stated, that the second apron put the Celtics in a troublesome spot. Regardless of preliminary experiences that Vacation didn’t like touchdown in Portland, Jake Fischer famous on The Backyard Report that he obtained encouragement from Damian Lillard, who reached out and talked up the group.
Solely eight days later after Boston dealt Vacation, the Bucks launched Lillard, who Vacation texted an emoji to. Vacation had lengthy wished to workforce up with Lillard, and whereas he’ll have to attend longer to play collectively as a result of Lillard’s achilles restoration, the shock resolution by Lillard to return to Portland invigorated Vacation’s curiosity in what the Blazers have deliberate forward.
“Clearly, Dame loves Portland and he’s been right here for years and I do know his household is right here,” Vacation stated. “To have the ability to play with him on the identical workforce is one thing I’ve wished to do for a very long time, even earlier than I left New Orleans, that was one thing that I’ve all the time wished to do. With the ability to do it again right here, particularly with a workforce that Dame has actually placed on his again for a very long time is absolutely cool.”
The Blazers traded Lillard to Milwaukee in 2023 for Vacation and draft picks earlier than Portland re-routed him to Boston for Robert Williams III, Malcolm Brogdon and extra draft alternatives. Cronin labored with Vacation on discovering a preferable vacation spot, and it resulted in Vacation successful his second NBA title instantly. In Milwaukee, Lillard lived in Vacation’s home whereas taking part in for the Bucks, and the pair Lillard revealed that one in every of their greetings earlier than a Bucks-Celtics recreation concerned him complaining to Vacation in regards to the WiFi.
Lillard returning to the Blazers required desperation by the Bucks to keep up competitiveness because the clock ticks on Giannis Antetokounmpo’s time with the Bucks, together with an achilles tear that adopted a blood clot that Lillard shortly recovered from earlier than the playoffs. He’ll miss most if not the entire 2025-26 season earlier than returning in full for his age-36 season. The Blazers try to make the playoffs for the primary time since 2020-21 after slowly rebuilding for 4 years beneath Chauncey Billups, who Vacation has admired. Portland gained 26-of-44 from mid-January by way of April to complete three video games again of the play-in. They’ve mentioned offense, Vacation stated, and praised the protection the Blazers performed final season. He touted his position-less recreation and taking pictures as methods to slot in alongside Lillard and Scott Henderson.
“I feel I’ve been within the recreation to know that it’s not all the time gonna be the brightest or the very best or the best,” Vacation stated. “I feel coming to a workforce and a company that has the character of this workforce and group makes basketball nice. That’s why you wish to come right here and play, since you really feel such as you’re a part of one thing greater than your self.”
In any other case the Blazers boast ascending younger expertise all through their lineup, together with Henderson, Deni Avdija, Donovan Clingan, who will take over for Deandre Ayton at heart, together with Summer time League sensation Yang Hansen, who impressed Vacation. Williams III, one other former Celtic, hopes to get well from back-to-back-to-back injury-riddled seasons the place he failed to achieve 36 video games.
Vacation didn’t tackle points along with his bodily that reportedly led the Blazers to take away two second-rounders initially despatched to Boston within the first experiences in regards to the commerce. Portland in the end felt snug to maneuver ahead with buying the 34-year-old, who has three-years, $104 million left on his contract. He handled knee, shoulder and groin points final 12 months earlier than breaking his pinky finger earlier than the playoffs and struggling a hamstring ailment that compelled him to overlook time within the first spherical. Vacation performed 62 common season video games earlier than showing in 8-of-11 within the playoffs. This summer season featured extra relaxation after he performed a big function within the Olympics with Group USA final offseason.
“I can simply be me,” Vacation stated. “I don’t actually know find out how to do the rest. Simply come right here and be the person who I’ve all the time been and take a look at to not simply assist out as a lot as attainable, however attempt to win. Clearly, with the group and the teaching employees, they’ve a terrific teaching employees, Corridor-of-Fame coach in Chauncey, however I feel as a present participant, who’s gained, been by way of the wrestle not too way back to win a championship, I nonetheless have that feeling and that itch, so I’m nearer to what that feeling is like and the way onerous it’s to truly win.”
