The Celtics were deep in trade rumors throughout the summer before they made deals to significantly cut costs. Kristaps Porzingis was traded to the Hawks while Jrue Holiday was moved to the Trail Blazers in a pair of huge deals this summer.

However, interestingly, the Raptors did make the call for Holiday armed with a draft pick, per NBA insider Jake Fischer. It was previously reported that Toronto asked for Derrick White, but it turns out the Raptors also had their eye on Holiday.

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“Toronto Raptors were calling with the No. 9 pick for Jrue and for Derrick,” Fischer said on “The Garden Report” show. “I don’t think Boston ever really was so interested in that selection for those types of guys. Golden State definitely called for Derrick White, too. But there’s just nothing that I know about Jaylen (Brown) that got really close or for Derrick, too.”

The Celtics stuck with the Trail Blazers deal as they landed Anfernee Simons instead. They were able to get out of the remainder of Holiday’s contract while landing an expiring deal in Simons. So they saved money for this upcoming season and beyond as part of the deal.

The other parts of Fischer’s reporting is also no surprise. The Warriors popped up as a team interested in White, but the Celtics’ asking price for their starting guard was expensive. Brown was also heavily in trade rumors, but teams seemingly never got close to acquiring 2024 NBA Finals MVP.

The Celtics majorly overhauled their roster for next season as they’re in a retooling phase. Holiday and Porzingis were sent out while Luke Kornet signed with the Spurs in free agency. Al Horford is also expected to depart, though it’s still unclear where the big man could end up. Even amid the changes, it doesn’t sound like the Celtics seriously considered moving one of their core pieces this summer in White or Brown.

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“I don’t think anything got close,” Fischer said. “I don’t think they were willing to move those guys out. … I think honestly for Jaylen, as great as he is, I think a lot of teams look at his salary number as something that’s a little bit like, ‘Why would you be paying him what Boston values him at for that contract?’ His deal is not so universally viewed as an incredible addition if you were to go out and trade for him, too.”

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