Proposed three-team blockbuster trade swaps two former 76ers stars among East contenders
Context:
A proposed three-team trade could see former Philadelphia 76ers stars Jrue Holiday and Tobias Harris moving among Eastern Conference contenders. The trade involves the Boston Celtics receiving Isaiah Stewart, the Detroit Pistons acquiring Holiday and Cam Johnson, and the Brooklyn Nets obtaining Harris, Sam Hauser, Marcus Sasser, and a 2026 first-round pick. The Celtics aim to decrease their salary burden, while the Pistons view Holiday as a valuable veteran addition to their young roster. The Brooklyn Nets plan to leverage Harris and Hauser for future draft capital through potential trades. This reshuffling of teams could significantly impact the Eastern Conference playoff dynamics in 2026, especially considering the previous contributions of Holiday and Harris to their teams' successes.
Dive Deeper:
The Philadelphia 76ers did not make the playoffs in 2025 due to injuries and finished with one of the worst records in the NBA, yet former players Jrue Holiday and Tobias Harris were part of playoff teams.
Bleacher Report's Greg Swartz suggested a three-way trade involving the Boston Celtics, Detroit Pistons, and Brooklyn Nets, which would see Holiday and Harris switching teams.
This trade proposal includes the Celtics receiving Isaiah Stewart, the Pistons acquiring Holiday and Cam Johnson, and the Nets obtaining Harris, Sam Hauser, Marcus Sasser, and a 2026 first-round pick from Detroit.
The Celtics' motivation for trading Holiday is primarily financial, aiming to avoid the NBA's second tax apron, while the Pistons see him as an experienced player who can enhance their promising young team.
Swartz noted that the Nets could benefit by flipping Harris and Hauser to other teams in exchange for additional draft picks, increasing their future assets.
Jrue Holiday, an All-Star during his tenure with the 76ers, and Tobias Harris, a key player in the Sixers' playoff runs, both have the potential to impact the playoff race in the Eastern Conference moving forward.
The potential trade highlights the strategic maneuvers teams undertake to balance immediate competitiveness with long-term financial and asset management.
The Philadelphia 76ers did not make the playoffs during the 2025 season. Injuries forced the Sixers to finish with the fifth-worst record in the NBA. However, multiple Sixers alumni were on playoff teams.
Among them were Jrue Holiday and Tobias Harris, both of whom played for the Sixers for multiple years. Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz floated a three-way trade between the Boston Celtics, Detroit Pistons, and Brooklyn Nets that would put Holiday and Harris on different teams. He proposed the following swap:
Celtics Receive: Isaiah Stewart
Pistons Receive: Holiday, Cam Johnson
Nets Receive: Harris, Sam Hauser, Marcus Sasser, 2026 first-round pick (top-five protected via Detroit)
Swartz explained that the Celtics would trade Holiday primarily to save money, as they want to get below the NBA’s second tax apron, but also explained why the Pistons would want him.
“Holiday is the perfect veteran to add to this young core and is still a very good defender who averaged 11.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.9 assists this season,” Swartz wrote.
The Pistons just came off their best season in years. While the New York Knicks may have eliminated them in the first round, the Pistons should capitalize on their promise. Swartz explained why the Nets would take Harris.
“Both Harris and Hauser can be flipped to contenders in the offseason or at the trade deadline for additional draft capital,” Swartz wrote.
Holiday played for the Sixers from 2009 to 2013, making the All-Star game in his last season with them. Harris played for the Sixers from 2019 to 2024, helping the Sixers make the playoffs every year. The Sixers alumni played a role in how their respective teams got as far as they did this season.
Whether one or both are playing for a different team could impact the Eastern Conference playoff race in 2026.
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