Los Angeles Clippers Want Jrue Holiday In A Potential Trade With The Celtics

The Los Angeles Clippers fell short of a deep playoff run this year, but they still have plans to stay in the title mix for next season. According to one report by team insider Brian Robb, the Clippers are one of several teams expected to pursue a trade for All-Star guard Jrue Holiday this summer.

“The Celtics are poised to make significant changes to their roster this offseason after Jayson Tatum’s Achilles tear amid a looming second apron financial crunch. Holiday is expected to be pursued by several teams on the trade market," wrote Mass Live, "and the Los Angeles Clippers are one team expected to show interest in the 34-year-old guard this offseason.”

Holiday, a 15-year NBA veteran, is widely known as one of the best two-way guards in the league. In 62 games for the Celtics this season, he averaged 11.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game on 44.3% shooting. In 2024, alongside Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, he played a key role in helping the Celtics win their first championship since 2008.

Before that, he played with Giannis Antetokounmpo on the Bucks. He was an All-Star in Milwaukee and even helped the franchise win its first championship in 2021. If not for being included in the Damian Lillard trade, Holiday might have never left the franchise.

In Boston, Jrue thought he found a permanent home after spending the last two seasons there, but now the franchise's entire future is in doubt. In the aftermath of a brutal playoff run, which saw Jayson Tatum suffer a torn Achilles tendon, the Celtics are going to be out of the championship running for at least the next full season.

Without Tatum for a whole year, the Celtics have no hope of competing, and it means that older, veteran players like Jrue Holiday and Al Horford may overstay their welcome. They will surely want a lucrative package in return for the All-Star veteran point guard, but the Clippers may be willing to pay that price if it means pairing him with Kawhi Leonard and James Harden.

After winning 50 games in the regular season, the Clippers were feeling secure about their decision to let Paul George walk over the summer. They no longer had to worry about paying out his contract while filling out the roster with depth. Plus, the trade allowed both James Harden and Kawhi Leonard to take on a bigger role in the offense without a streaky or unavailable co-star to hold them back.

After losing in the first round to the Nuggets, however, the Clippers clearly still have some moves to make before they can contend for the title. Adding a veteran point guard like Jrue Holiday would work wonders for them, even at his expensive three-year, $103 million contract. 

Whether it would be enough to give them an edge over the Thunder or Lakers remains to be seen, but the Clippers will never give up as long as Kawhi is healthy. They believe he can lead them to a championship, and team owner Steve Ballmer is committed to doing whatever it takes to help them get there.