The Boston Celtics’ backcourt was severely lacking when they traded Marcus
Smart to acquire former All-Star big man Kristaps Porzingis over the
offseason. Despite their admiration for Derrick White, Boston still felt that a
seasoned presence and a defensive stopper were necessary. For this reason,
Jrue Holiday—who was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers in the blockbuster
Damian Lillard trade—was acquired by Brad Stevens and the Boston Celtics.
Holiday, who has a reputation for being among the league’s top two-way
players, has improved the Celtics’ defense. Boston has the best overall record
in the NBA with a record of 62-17 just before the playoffs begin. It’s difficult to
ignore Holiday’s efforts as their aspirations of winning a title rise. For this
reason, on Wednesday night, the Celtics and Holiday came to an agreement on
a significant contract extension.
Holiday hasn’t even been in Boston for a full year, but he’s not leaving anytime
soon after he and the team agreed to a $135 million, four-year contract
extension. With a deal that runs through the 2027–2028 campaign, the
veteran point guard has been reassured by the Celtics front office that, along
with Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, White, and Porzingis, he is a crucial
member of their championship-caliber core.
It shouldn’t be too shocking that this contract extension was announced at this
particular time. As the top-seeded club in the league heading into the playoffs,
Boston’s management staff has already turned the page to the 2024–25
campaign when it comes to determining the franchise’s financial status. With
Tatum’s impending extension and the Celtics having just awarded Brown the
biggest extension in league history the previous season, they had to find a way
to reduce expenses.
Holiday has a $37 million player option for the 2024–25 season, so the Celtics
will benefit greatly from signing him to this four-year, $135 million agreement
immediately. Holiday essentially declines this option early and signs with the
team for about $7 million less as a result of this agreement. The Celtics save
money for the following 2024–25 season, Holiday gains long-term security,
and their good marriage—which could result in a championship in June—continues.
According to league sources who spoke to ClutchPoints, the two-time All-Star
and NBA champion guard was looking for confirmation from the Celtics that
they really wanted him to be a long-term member of the team rather than just
a rental during their title run this year. In light of the veteran’s services,
Holiday and his agent, Jason Glushon of Glushon Sports Management,
therefore tried to come to an agreement on a just extension.
With an average yearly worth of almost $57 million per season, Brown’s
contract deal from last summer will earn him over $280 million through the
2028–2029 season. After being acquired by the Celtics in the off-season, Porzingis signed a two-year, $60 million contract deal that will keep him with
the organization through the 2025–2026 campaign. In due course, Tatum, like
Brown, will receive a large extension; Holiday’s four-year, $135 million
contract is the most recent’
The Celtics are committing a significant amount of money, particularly in light
of the additional fines the NBA has implemented for clubs with large payrolls.
The Celtics’ ability to be flexible and have options was crucial during all of
these transactions, something Stevens has prepared his team for.
All of Boston’s players are valuable, which is what makes their situation so
special in terms of contracts. Even though Tatum and Brown don’t seem to be
going away anytime soon, the team may eventually try to cut either player
whenever they’d like, regardless of the remaining money on their contracts.
White, who has developed into one of the league’s finest two-way guards, is
comparable.
