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Celtics Star, 35, Predicted to be Traded This Offseason

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Ashish Mathur | Last updated Jun 23, 2025 5:13 PM ET

The Boston Celtics will have the most expensive roster in the NBA next season if no changes are made this offseason.

Since All-Star forward Jayson Tatum could miss the entire 2025-26 season recovering from his right Achilles tendon tear, the Celtics may not be contenders.

Boston is not expected to trade Tatum, Jaylen Brown or Derrick White this offseason, but Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis or Payton Pritchard could be moved to save money.

The new league year begins on July 6, and Dan Favale of Bleacher Report thinks the Celtics will trade Holiday once they are allowed to.

"Holiday’s remaining contract—three years, $104.4 million—is simultaneously the toughest to move and most likely to go," Favale wrote. "Having just turned 35, the backcourt defensive ace isn’t going to be part of the next great Celtics team. Next year is kaput while Tatum recovers from his Achilles injury, and Boston may need a feeling-out season in 2026-27 when he returns.

"Holiday will be entering his age-37 campaign by the time this team is anywhere close to whole again. Shipping out Holiday may require adding a sweetener, but it shouldn’t be anything major. Moving him should be even easier knowing the Celtics won’t be trying to extract value."

Holiday, 35, played in 62 games for the Celtics this season. He averaged 11.1 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.9 assists per gamewhile shooting 44.3% from the field, 35.3% from beyond the arc and 90.9% from the free-throw line.

In the 2025 playoffs, Holiday averaged 10.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists per gamein seven games against the Orlando Magic and New York Knicks.

After winning the championship last year against the Dallas Mavericks, the Celtics lost to the Knicks in this year’s conference semifinals.

Holiday has played for the Philadelphia 76ers, New Orleans Pelicans, Milwaukee Bucks and Celtics. The UCLA product and two-time NBA champion has career averages of 15.8 points, 4.2 rebounds and 6.2 assists pe game.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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