April 11: Holiday’s extension is now official, the Celtics announced in a press release.
“In addition to being one of the more accomplished players in the league, Jrue is an elite teammate and competitor,” said president of basketball operations Brad Stevens. “He is simply a person who raises everyone’s level around him. He combines an unselfishness to do whatever is best for the team with an edge to take on any challenge at any time. We are grateful that Jrue is a Celtic.”
April 10: The Celtics are signing Jrue Holiday to a four-year, $135MM contract extension, agent Jason Glushon tells ESPN’s Adrian Wojanrowski.
A source tells Adam Himmselsbach of The Boston Globe (Twitter link) that the final season (2027/28) of Holiday’s new deal is a player option.
As Wojnarowski writes, Holiday is declining his $37.3MM player option for 2024/25 in order to sign a long-term deal with Boston that will save the team “several million dollars” toward next season’s salary cap.
According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks (Twitter links), Holiday’s extension will pay him $30.1MM next season, reducing the Celtics’ projected luxury tax bill by over $35MM. There’s also a scenario in which Boston could get under the second tax apron next season if the club trims payroll this summer, Marks adds.
The old Collective Bargaining Agreement did not permit players to decline an option and replace it with a lower salary via an extension, making Holiday the first player to utilize the change in the new CBA, notes cap expert Yossi Gozlan (via Twitter).
Holiday, who was traded from Milwaukee to Portland in late September before being re-routed to Boston on October 1, is a two-time All-Star and five-time All-Defensive team member. The Celtics were limited to offering Holiday a two-year extension until April 1, when the six-month post-trade restriction lifted.
Chris Mannix of SI.com hears (via Twitter) the Celtics and Holiday “have been thrilled” with their partnership, and Boston knew it would take a lucrative long-term deal in order to retain the veteran guard and have him avoid free agency.
Interestingly, Holiday’s new extension is essentially an exact replica of the four-year, $135MM extension he signed three years ago with Milwaukee, per Wojnarowski. Holiday, 33, becomes the fourth player in league history to sign a guaranteed $100MM+ contract at 33 years old or older, joining LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Al Horford.
Since he’s often a fourth or fifth option on offense for Boston, Holiday’s scoring (12.5 PPG) and assists (4.9 APG) are down this season. However, he’s averaging a career-high 5.4 rebounds per game while shooting a career-best 43.1% from deep in 68 games (32.9 MPG).
The Celtics are currently 62-17, holding by far the best record in the NBA. They’re 14 games ahead of the East’s No. 2 seed, Milwaukee, and lead the top Western teams by seven games.
This is a misstep IMO. I understand he was always going to take a step back in terms of usage but his efficiency is way down (14 PER) and I can’t see this contract aging well. This was a gift to his agent.
PER? Come on. He’s the 5th option on the Celtics.
He’s shooting a career high 43 percent from three and averaging 12-5-5 and is playing great D. I hear you on giving him big cash at his age, but obviously Stevens is gonna ride this unit into the ground, and that ain’t dumb
PER does not rely on usage. He’s just playing much worse offensively. Being a 5th (or 8th or 10th) option doesn’t affect your efficiency unless you just aren’t as efficient. 33 million for an aging PG is a risk. That’s all I’m saying.
I know PER doesn’t rely on usage.
I said “PER? Come on.” Because PER kinda blows.
Agreed on it being a risk because of his age as I said in my comment.
I’d gladly give him four years but not at that kind of cash.
C’s wouldn’t have cap space to replace him. They have a championship contender locked in for the few years, even with some regression. Its good to have an owner who is willing to step up and keep that core intact even though the cost is high.
Hell yeah! Love his D and he wants to win!
Celtics need to win this thing this year by being a great team.
“Misstep?” Doubt that. “Gift to his agent?” Ha, ha! Milwaukee in effect traded Jrue Holiday for Damian Lillard & we saw what happened this season. The Bucks even had to fire their coach as without Jrue their defense fell apart. Now comes the playoffs. If we win it all, Jrue’s whole contract will be paid for, right? Go Celtics!
Wow, didn’t see that coming.
Let’s wait for the details …
Seems like odd timing for an extension. Is it typical for extensions to be signed in the weeks leading up to the playoffs?
He became extension eligible on April 1st, I believe
Nice, this is what team first guys do when trying to win. Go Celtics.
Well they traded “Assets” for him so an extension was going to be made. I don’t think he will be worth that in 2 years. He does play defense though that is his main thing, so if he can stay healthy he shouldn’t lose a step.
He’s almost 34. How does him staying healthy equal him not losing a step? This contract won’t be halfway through before he can’t keep up defensively
Hc can lose a step and he’ll still be able to “keep up” just fine.
If he gets a leg injury it will impact way more than just getting older. He is that good of a defender to where age won’t impact him losing much of a step. If you add injury like Klay who was a great defender it makes it worse.
Brad Stevens was a really good coach, but my man has been crushing it as a GM. My hats off to him for his overall body of work.
Good trade. Bad extension. But I guess you couldn’t have one without the other, most likely.
I’d like to see the final season be a team option, but I’m just nitpicking. With the role and defense he plays, that’s a very good contract for both sides. He’s also not a distraction in any way. Boston has figured out how to use him and Horford efficiently
Holiday is an amazing athlete. VERY few guys his age are even able to play as G’s any longer due to defensive responsibilities there, let alone continue to be a defensive force there. BOS really didn’t have much choice but to re-sign him, in that their payroll is likely to remain north of Apron-2 for some time. Fewer guaranteed years, at his age, would have been nice, but this looks close enough to market to get things done.
Very happy for Jrue, and of the best guys both on and off the court.
An overpay, but Stevens had to do it ……. the CELTS are in a championship window and Jrue’s game is one which will still be serviceable as he ages.
Need to resign White now!
I can see them trading him to create more cap space he would probably get you 2 first or a first and a player to fill out the rest of the bench unless they trade Pritchard or AL because I don’t think they would be able to bring back guys like Kornet, Hauser, and the others plus White would give them the best return
Stop it. Not trading White to keep Hauser and Kornet and I like those guys. Owner wants to spend, spend away.
I do to and also don’t want them to trade him but you also need a bench so keeping one guy over bring in 3 to make ur bench better you have to do it
White isn’t going anywhere
We can only hope he could ask for more then what the c’s have and like I said he would get u the best return you can’t keep the all these days sorry they should’ve signed him over Jrue
Not trading Al Horford again, especially if we win it all.
5th best player making 35 mil a year? Yikes
I wonder if he has a no trade clause in the contract?
I like the signing but don’t see him playing out this contract in a Celtic uniform.
Why do you need to look at only the negative. Why must the glass be half empty all the time. The NBA market is what it is. Hating on contracts is just Envy and jealousy for most of you. Talk game before money .
This is an excellent signing. Jrue is a top 10 2way player right NOW. And has been for yrs. He takes care of himself. And has always been a legit PRO in every way. Boston should be thanking the basketball gods you got him. Plus you got him cheap. At 33 yrs old. He will still be doing this at 36-38. Players play better longer today. The Celtics window is now and for next 5yrs. And can always move him or his contract for help later.(end of contract). Jrue is a team player. He plays to win. That’s what 2way players Do ……. No hero-ball here. Holiday is capable of being MVP of playoffs. Has more playoff experience than any Celtic. He’s earned his status, respect, and MONEY……..
And he’ll earn this contract too. Excellent move
Spot on for the most part Al however Holiday may have one thing they don’t have, that being a ring but he doesn’t have more playoff experience than Brown or Tatum. Those two have never not been in the playoffs and the Celtics have made some deep runs over the last 7-8 seasons. Holiday spent his first 12 seasons on middling teams in Philly and New Orleans.
And Horford
Horford has 167 playoff games played.
Brown has played 105
Tatum 94
Holiday 70 playoff games.
Yeah Al has the experience. But he’s a bench guy now. Jrue can help Carry a team. It’s a 2way sport. No one ever talks about great players impact on team from defensive side. When it is Half the gm. Jrue is that guy.
He’s won. And handles the point. Handles the other teams top scorer. That’s the experience they need. He plays the game the right way. Boston is lucky to have him. Imo Celtics don’t even know how valuable he is to them yet. He can impact the gm both ways. And not just scoring. Like most Celtics stars. That experience is what I’m talking about. I don’t see Celtics ever winning without him. Tatum and Jalen can’t do it. They need a floor leader to win.
Milwaukee should have never traded Jrue to begin with and will be lucky to make it past the first round of the playoffs.
You do t want to play …….. ok
We going to bust that Aaa then ……..
Yo.
Yo rct ????? where you at . Hommie
Knicks 17-3 with OG. RESPECt.
link to music.youtube.com
second to none …. we want it.
Brunson just gets better man. That’s the true test of greatness. You have to put yrs back to back. Brunson has elevated his gm every yr. That’s real shhhh …..
So glad we got him. Thanks Mark.
Charles and Shaq will eat Crow. I pray we get the Pacers. We will spank that Aaa like we spanked Boston tonight.
We want the SECOND seed Ernie. We coming for you. We coming…….
Did you see Jalen and Jayson at end of gm . Sitting on bench. Watching a SPANKING . They saw a team that’s not going to give up. I want the 2nd seed now lols……..