The Celtics are in the midst of a potential title run this season but they have their eyes on the future as well. According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, the team has interest in signing Jrue Holiday to a contract extension when he becomes eligible for a longer deal next month. The veteran point guard sat out his fifth straight game with a shoulder injury on Monday night against the Hawks.
“He is eligible on April 1 to, he’s already eligible now but he, this sounds funky, he gets more eligible April 1,” ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said on The Hoop Collective podcast “There’s fewer limits on what he can sign April 1. And I do think that there’s interest on both sides to get something done sooner rather than later. Whether they do or not I don’t know.”
Holiday has had a stellar campaign after being acquired by Boston via trade in September, averaging 12.8 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.9 assists. He’s happily accepted being the team’s fifth option in the starting five and has raised his game elsewhere with a reduced scoring burden on himself.
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Holiday told MassLive in January that he’s hopeful he would be back in Boston over the long-term while getting a deal done this year.
“My last extension was during the course of the year,” Holiday explained. “I think that we can do both, talk about it and as well as prepare for games and prepare for what the future is.”
Holiday has a player option worth $39.4 million for the 2024-25 season but both Holiday and the Celtics could have motivation to get a deal done. Boston has the ability to bring back their entire core for at least one more season from a financial perspective before the repeater tax kicks in. Reducing Holiday’s salary for next season (with more long-term money attached) would reduce Boston’s payroll burden by tens of millions next year when luxury tax penalties are factored in.
On the flip side, Holiday would surely enjoy the security of having a long-term pact in place at a high salary for the remainder of his career even if it results in a slight payout for next season.
Whether the two sides find common ground in the weeks to come will be a subplot to keep an eye on. It’s expected to be a weak free agent market this summer so Holiday will surely earn a big payday somewhere if he decides to hit the open market.
The rest of Boston’s starting five is already under contract through at least the 2024-25 season.
“I think everybody kind of knows we’re set and we’re set for a long period,” Holiday said back in January. “No matter what happens, you are going to come back here with the same guys for the most part. Things happen but I think you lock into that, being able to have that comfortability and just kind of that pressure off of you about what’s next.”
