Holiday lands 4-year, $135M extension from Celtics

After arriving in a blockbuster offseason trade, Boston Celtics guard Jrue Holiday has agreed on a four-year, $135 million contract extension, his agent, Jason Glushon of Glushon Sports Management, told ESPN on Wednesday.

Holiday is declining his $37.3 million player option for 2024-25 to sign a long-term deal that’ll take him through the 2027-28 season, Glushon said.

Holiday’s extension saves the Celtics several million dollars on the cap next year and aids in keeping together a talented and expensive core of Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis, Derrick White and Holiday that has led the franchise to the NBA’s best record this season. With Holiday’s extension, the Celtics are destined to operate as a second apron team in 2024-25, restricting their free agency and trade options for exceeding the highest payroll threshold.

Holiday will become the fourth player to sign a guaranteed deal worth more than $100 million at 33 or older — a list that also includes LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Al Horford.

The timing of the deal largely mirrors Holiday’s arrival and extension with the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2021 season. Holiday arrived in a trade from New Orleans, taking several months to gauge his confidence and comfort in the organization before signing a similar four-year, $135 million contract extension. In the ensuing months, Holiday won an NBA championship and an Olympic gold medal — something he’ll try to repeat in 2024 with the Celtics and Team USA.

Holiday’s scoring average understandably dropped upon joining the Celtics’ starry lineup, but he’s shooting a career-best 43% on 3-pointers — including 62% on corner 3s, which would be the best over a season for any NBA player with 50-plus attempts in the past 25 years.

He remains one of the most versatile and accomplished defenders, matching up this season against guards, forwards and centers. For example, Holiday — a five-time All-NBA defensive selection — has defended 19 players for 40-plus half-court matchups this season, including New York‘s Jalen Brunson, Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo and New Orleans’ Zion Williamson, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.

Holiday arrived to the Celtics in a September trade from the Portland Trail Blazers, where he spent several days in the aftermath of a three-way deal that landed Damian Lillard with the Bucks. The extension further thins the free agent market, eliminating a player in Holiday who would’ve been coveted throughout the league — especially in Philadelphia, where there’s a possibility of a maximum salary slot.