On Wednesday, guard Jrue Holiday agreed to a four-year contract extension with the Boston Celtics. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the extension is worth $135 million. Meanwhile, the guard is also declining a player option for north of 37 million dollars next year to make this happen. In doing so, Holiday becomes the fourth player to sign a guaranteed deal worth nine figures at 33 or older, joining just LeBron James, Steph Curry, and current Celtics teammate Al Horford.
“We've wanted him here for a long time, and when the time comes, and we're allowed to talk about those types of things, this is something that we hope can be a long-term relationship, obviously beyond these years of his contract," Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens said about wanting to sign Holiday long term. “But we have a few months to go before we can get too deep into that stuff."
The Celtics acquired Holiday in a trade in the offseason. This season, he is averaging 12.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.9 assists. Jrue is also shooting 43 percent on three-pointers, a career-high.
Signing Holiday to a long-term deal is a smart move by the Celtics. The Celtics will save millions of dollars on the cap next year. Keeping Holiday means the Celtics will keep their star and core players of Holiday, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis, and Derrick White. Holiday has helped improve the Celtics' offense and defense. The Celtics rank first in offense efficiency and third in defense efficiency. Holiday has helped the Celtics have the best record in the NBA at 62-17 and clinch home-court advantage throughout the playoffs.
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