Aiming to Maximize Championship Window, Celtics Extend Jrue Holiday

Bobby Krivitsky | Apr 10, 2024

Jan 22, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; Boston Celtics guard Jrue Holiday (4) brings the ball up the court. / Andrew Dieb-USA TODAY Sports

As the Boston Celtics apply the finishing touches on a dominant campaign in which they're 62-17, tied for the sixth-most regular season wins in franchise history, they've reportedly agreed to a four-year, $135 million extension with Jrue Holiday, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

According to Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe, the final year of the deal is a player option.

"I'd like to be here," the two-time All-Star conveyed to Brian Robb of MassLive in January regarding a potential extension before the playoffs. "I feel like I'm getting more and more comfortable. Loving the guys, loving the organization, and loving the city."

The former UCLA Bruin took this path with the Milwaukee Bucks, signing a four-year extension in April 2021. That postseason, he helped the franchise capture its second championship. He hopes history repeats itself in Boston.

In exchange for long-term security, Holiday's cap hit gets reduced from $37.3 million, had he exercised his player option for the 2024-25 campaign, to a new deal carrying an average annual value of $33.75 million.

Keith Smith of Spotrac projects the C's will save about $38 million in tax penalties by reducing his salary from a projected roughly $39 million to an estimate of about $30 million.

Like Kristaps Porzingis leaving $17 million on the table when he signed his two-year, $60 million extension over the summer, that's of massive importance to a Celtics organization living over the second apron. 

Jayson Tatum's in line for a supermax extension this summer that will join Jaylen Brown's on the books after the 2024-25 campaign. Derrick White's also due a new deal at that time.

It's a reflection of how their best path forward is the most expensive. Boston's staring down the possibility of spending well over $100 million in luxury tax penalties on top of a $200+ million payroll.

Holiday, who turns 34 in June, joins LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and teammate Al Horford, becoming the fourth player to sign a fully guaranteed deal worth more than $100 million at 33 or older.

The five-time All-Defensive Team selection has been instrumental to the C's success this season, quarterbacking their defense and making a meaningful impact on offense despite having a 16.4 percent usage rate, the lowest of his career.

While teammates credit the California native for sacrificing the most on the team with the most talented top six in the NBA, he's still producing 12.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and nearly a steal and a block per contest. 

He's also drilling 43.1 percent of the 4.7 shots he's hoisting from beyond the arc. According to NBA.com, excluding D.J. Wilson, who's played in two games this season, Holiday's 61.1 percent accuracy on corner threes is tops in the league.

At the introductory press conference after Boston acquired the six-foot-four guard, Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck stated, "I look at the next six years as a real opportunity for us." 

So, while the new collective bargaining agreement is more punitive, the organization's talking and spending like a franchise undeterred, unwilling to compromise Tatum and Brown's prime.

Further Reading

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Jayson Tatum Opens Up About Sacrificing in Celtics' Title Pursuit: 'It's a Process'

Marcus Smart Shares How Boston Shaped Him, His Message to Celtics Fans

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Jaylen Brown Quieting Doubters, Validating What He Always Believed: 'Earn Everybody's Trust'

Joe Mazzulla Discusses Identity, Evolution of Celtics' Offense: 'Balance of Pace and Execution'