The Milwaukee Bucks ought to consider exchanging Doc Rivers for Jrue Holiday.

Though it may seem like a crazy idea, bear with me.
The NBA’s handling of Rivalry Week has been outstanding. Sam Presti versus his Oklahoma City mentors was overshadowed by Chet Holmgren versus Victor Wembanyama. That fight had the feel of an upcoming NBA Finals matchup. Devin Booker and Luka Doncic traded barbs and insults in their customary vitriolic exchange. But the most important lesson from this week’s NBA action was the growth of a rivalry that was already beginning to take shape. Rivalry week provided the Milwaukee Bucks with a chance to step up their efforts to close the gap with the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference.

Without Adrian Griffin being kicked out by the Bucks to make room for coaching narcotic Glenn “Doc” Rivers, it wouldn’t have been complete. It will seem as though Griffin never made an appearance on the Bucks bench in a few weeks. The Bucks didn’t appear overly dejected during their first game following Griffin’s dismissal.

In Boston, Rivers is venerated. Not quite to the extent of Bill Belichick, but comparable to Terry Francona. Prior to receiving recognition at TD Garden in December, he declared his time in Boston to be the greatest time he had ever spent in sports and was accountable for the most recent championship won by the Boston Celtics. However, Rivers will be forced into a duty that puts him in opposition to the Celtics for the second time. With the third-party acquisition of former Buck Jrue Holiday, Boston’s hold on the division was strengthened.

Rivers is the escalation in the Boston-Milwaukee rivalry, if Holiday ending up in Boston’s backcourt was the first shot. When Boston and Milwaukee played a seven-game series in the past, Boston crushed Milwaukee in the seventh encounter. It’s personal this time around. Any prospective series will be defined by the storyline involving Lillard and Holiday, but this year’s matchup is more intricate than previous ones because of Rivers and Holiday.

Holiday was presented at the time of Lillard’s acquisition as the Demar DeRozan replacement in a deal akin to the Raptors’ 2019 acquisition of Kawhi Leonard. Although their relationship might be jeopardized, it was hoped that a roster change would motivate Giannis Antetokounmpo to re-up for an extension and help a team that had fallen out of contention return to the NBA Finals. In addition to providing offensive firepower and a backup scorer to lessen Antetokounmpo’s workload, Lillard’s acquisition also depleted a defense that, under Mike Budenholzer, was regularly among the best in the league.

In the end, their defense in the bottom third was a major factor in Griffin’s dismissal. While it might not have been the sole cause, it was a major impetus. I wouldn’t have been surprised if Rivers had been unemployed for a year before the Celtics chose him to replace Ime Udoka after the latter was suspended and eventually fired ahead of the 2022–2023 season for having an improper relationship with a worker.

The solution that could potentially benefit both teams involves a hypothetical trade between Doc Rivers and Damian Lillard for Joe Mazzulla and Brad Stevens. This trade scenario aims to address the needs of both franchises. Holiday is viewed more favorably in Milwaukee than in Boston currently, as he finds himself in a lesser role behind Derrick White. If asked, many Bucks fans might still approve of the Lillard trade despite his current position as the fourth option. Furthermore, Lillard would benefit from teaming up with a backcourt partner who can compensate for his defensive shortcomings. The idea of Rivers returning to coach the Celtics seems fitting, akin to the historical association between Bill Russell and Boston. This trade scenario could potentially be revisited in the offseason, especially if the Philadelphia 76ers achieve success in the Eastern Conference, prompting the Celtics to make significant changes if they fail to win a championship. The concept of various forces aligning against a third party, known as “Sunkretizein,” could apply to the situation.

It’s worth noting that the Celtics previously traded Rivers to the Clippers for a 2015 first-round pick, which they used on a guard from Georgia State who didn’t contribute significantly to their roster. While this proposed trade is complex and unlikely to materialize, it presents intriguing possibilities for both teams. The idea of Rivers and Holiday shaping each other’s careers in a unique time loop is unconventional but potentially effective. Given the unpredictable nature of the NBA, such trades cannot be entirely ruled out. In the meantime, fans can anticipate the complicated emotions that would arise from a playoff series between the Celtics and the Bucks.