Before the upcoming playoffs, Celtics guard Jrue Holiday got paid handsomely for his hard work.
On Wednesday night, Holiday’s agent Jason Glushon announced that his client and the Celtics had agreed to terms on a deal, per ESPN insider Adrian Wojnarowski.
The 33-year-old guard was sent to the Portland Trail Blazers this offseason so that the Milwaukee Bucks could bring in eight-time All-Star Damian Lillard. But Holiday didn’t stay long, as the Celtics quickly traded for him by giving up center Robert Williams III, reigning Sixth Man of the Year Malcolm Brogdon and a few picks.
The move has worked wonders for the C’s, as they hold the best record in the NBA and locked up the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference in late March. Boston’s talented starting five boasting Holiday, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis and Derrick White has largely dominated the regular season.
The Celtics are hoping for that success to translate to the postseason. Yet, the front office wanted to ensure that their intentions with Holiday were clear prior to the start of the playoffs.
So, what does this deal mean for Holiday and the organization as a whole?
Jrue Holiday believes in Boston
There are now 135 million reasons that prove why Holiday believes in this current Celtics squad. The veteran guard has been in the NBA for over a decade, and there’s a fair chance the next contract he signed would be his last. If he’s willing to stay in Boston for four more years, it shows that he has faith in what the Celtics have built this season and could see himself in Beantown for the long run.
Additionally, his extension does the front office a few favors. It saves the Celtics several million dollars in salary heading into an important offseason, as White is about to become an unrestricted free agent and Tatum has a 2025 player option. For Boston to bring those guys back, it’ll need all the cap room it can get this summer.
Would a cheaper deal have made the front office even happier? Yes, but the two-time All-Star has played well enough this season to deserve an extension. Best of all, this deal keeps him happy and focused for the playoffs, which has worked before.
Holiday inked an extension with the Bucks in early April of 2021. Soon after that, he earned his first NBA championship by helping Milwaukee end its 50-year title drought. The Celtics will look to follow a similar pattern and capture their first ring in over 15 years.
