Suns Linked to Jrue Holiday Trade Talks

Phoenix is reportedly considering a straight-up swap of Jalen Green for Portland point guard Jrue Holiday.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Basketball

Suns Linked to Jrue Holiday Trade Talks

The Phoenix Suns are off to a poor start this season, and a proposed trade would send Jalen Green to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for point guard Jrue Holiday. The deal is reported as a straight-up swap.

Why it matters

Devin Booker has been playing out of position as the de facto point guard since Chris Paul's departure, and Holiday would add a true floor general to the Phoenix backcourt. Portland may be looking to shed surplus players from a backcourt logjam.

The proposed deal is a one-for-one exchange, with Jalen Green going from Phoenix to Portland and Jrue Holiday coming from Portland to Phoenix. Whether the trade is finalized has not been confirmed in the reporting.

The players

Phoenix Suns

The Phoenix Suns are an NBA franchise based in Phoenix, Arizona, and a Western Conference club that reached the NBA Finals in recent seasons.

Portland Trail Blazers

The Portland Trail Blazers are an NBA franchise based in Portland, Oregon, and the trade partner in the proposed deal.

Jrue Holiday

Jrue Holiday is a veteran NBA point guard who won an NBA Championship with the Milwaukee Bucks.

Devin Booker

Devin Booker is a veteran NBA shooting guard who has been the Suns' franchise cornerstone and has been filling in at point guard.

Jalen Green

Jalen Green is an NBA guard who would be sent from the Suns to Portland in the proposed trade.

The details

Jrue Holiday was the starting point guard for the Milwaukee Bucks when they won their first NBA Championship, defeating the Phoenix Suns in the Finals. Phoenix was one of the league's surprise teams last season, but has struggled early this year.

Timeline

  1. Last season: The Suns were one of the surprise teams in the league.

  2. A few years ago: The Bucks won their first NBA Championship over the Suns in the Finals.

  3. Since Chris Paul's departure: Devin Booker became the de facto Suns point guard.

  4. This season: The Suns are off to a poor start as trade links surfaced.

Season Trajectory

Holiday's arrival would be a direct response to the Suns' early-season struggles, following a surprising campaign last year that raised expectations. The move would also mark a shift from Booker's improvised point guard role toward a more conventional backcourt setup.

If the trade is completed, Jalen Green would leave the Suns roster and Jrue Holiday would take over the Phoenix point guard duties from Devin Booker. Fantasy managers tracking Green or Holiday would need to update their rosters accordingly.

The takeaway

A reshuffled backcourt can reset a team's identity midseason, and Phoenix's willingness to explore this deal signals that its current structure is not working. Watching whether Booker returns to shooting guard full-time will show how the front office views its long-term roster.

Further reading

For more on Phoenix's roster moves, see the latest Basketball coverage.