The Portland Trail Blazers are coming off a disappointing 36-46 season that left them 12th in the West. But hope has returned to Rip City with Damian Lillard making his way back, instantly raising expectations for a bounce-back year. Still, not everyone is convinced by the Blazers’ offseason approach. ESPN’s Tim Bontemps pointed to their decision to help the Boston Celtics by taking on 35-year-old Jrue Holiday, questioning how an aging guard fits alongside Lillard.

Bontemps highlighted that he finds it hard to see Jrue Holiday’s value on a young Trail Blazers roster. “It’s like, OK, you add Jrue Holiday to this team, but where does he fit? And why are you doing this?” he questioned. His co-host Tim MacMahon, however, offered a different perspective. He compared Holiday’s potential impact in Portland to Fred VanVleet’s role with the Houston Rockets

“He[VanVleet] was worth every penny of that because of him helping to establish the culture and the leadership and the toughness and the professionalism and all those kind of things. I got to think that’s part of the vision and the hope with Drew Holliday in Portland. I will say, as consummate of a pro as he is, I’ve never heard anything but great things about Jrue Holliday’s character,” MacMahon explained on Hoop Collective.

The Houston Rockets felt the sting of losing Fred VanVleet to an ACL tear right before training camp, a loss that went beyond the box score. VanVleet provided leadership, direction, and a presence that helped anchor the team. Similarly, Jrue Holiday brings 17 years of NBA experience and a reputation as a “finishing piece” to any roster. During his stints with both the Bucks and the Celtics, the 35-year-old veteran played a pivotal role in guiding his teams to championships. The Blazers are banking on the same.

While there may be a lot of negative narrative around Jrue Holiday, the veteran guard remains focused on what matters most: winning and contributing to Portland’s young core. “Honestly, it’s to win,” Holiday once said when asked about his immediate goals with the Blazers. Holiday is also mindful of his role alongside Portland’s young stars, including guards Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe.

“They give 110% every time they play, so super excited to,if it’s (to) mentor them, but just kind of play the game, be able to go out here and show the world not just my talent but theirs,” Jrue said in that same presser. With a young core around, the Blazers will utilize him not just with his play but to mentor the young core. Versatility remains another key element of Holiday’s approach.

“I think I play every position … I feel like I’m a good fit with anyone, and again, Dame’s game is so easy to play with.” The negative comments surely reach him, too. And even before critics could come down heavily on his move to Portland, the 35-year-old has cleared the air. However, there’s a key difference between Fred VanVleet and Holiday. “Fred VanVleet chose to go to Houston,” MacMahon noted. Holiday didn’t, which is part of why a narrative is being built.

Why Jrue Holiday could overturn the ‘worst move’ narrative

In a recent survey, league insiders voted the Trail Blazers’ deal for Holiday as the worst offseason move. The reasons are visible. They have a logjam of guards, and Holiday only adds to the troubles of managing their minutes. But this isn’t like the last time he was traded to the Blazers. This time, Holiday sees his value.

In a candid discussion, he revealed his excitement about joining the Blazers. “I think that after the last few years of what has happened after Damian Lillard being traded, and then now Dame’s back, I think it’s an exciting time here in Portland. It’s an exciting time to be a Trail Blazer, and I’m excited to be part of it,” he said.

At a later stage of his career, Holiday might have a reserved role if he spends more than one season with Portland. But this year, his on-court ferocity is essential. Without Lillard’s scoring, the Trail Blazers will likely rely on Sharpe and Scoot to create. But Holiday, even at 35, is their best on-ball defender.

The team might not be spoken about enough. But last season they ended with 36 wins, and have now added some depth to their lineup. Holiday allows Chauncey Billups to experiment with his resources and potentially take the Western Conference by surprise. Currently, the two-time champion is thrilled to work with the young team.

Can he be the finishing piece for the third time in his career? If not that, Jrue Holiday can contribute positively to this unsolved puzzle as Portland fights another battle.