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Will the Celtics have trouble finding a trade partner for Jrue Holiday?
Boston Celtics guard Jrue Holiday. Erik Williams-Imagn Images

Will the Celtics have trouble finding a trade partner for Jrue Holiday?

As currently constructed, the Boston Celtics' roster will cost approximately $500 million in salaries and taxes next season. Brad Stevens built the roster to contend for championships. That dice roll immediately paid dividends as Joe Mazzulla's squad hoisted a banner in 2024.

Unfortunately, Jayson Tatum suffered an Achilles tendon tear against the New York Knicks in the 2025 playoffs. He will likely be out of action for the 2025-26 season. As such, Boston's expensively constructed roster no longer makes sense.

Stevens is expected to begin making moves to duck under the second luxury tax apron. That's where Jrue Holiday comes in. The veteran guard is a genuine winner. He's been the missing piece for the Milwaukee Bucks and the Celtics in recent years. Yet, at 34 years old and with three years remaining on his four-year $134 million deal, finding a willing suitor won't be easy. 

"Multiple rival executives have passed along that, for all of Holiday's unquestioned championship know-how after contributing to title teams in Milwaukee and Boston, some form of incentive (such as draft compensation) might have to be attached to Holiday's contract by the Celtics to convince someone to absorb the $104 million remaining on the 34-year-old's deal over the next three seasons," Jake Fischer reported.

Under no circumstances should the Celtics attach an asset to move on from Holiday. He was one of their best players during their recent postseason run. Furthermore, he's still a top-two defensive guard in the NBA. Paying someone while losing such a highly impactful member of the rotation would be criminal. 

If anything, Boston should be getting a legitimate talent back in return for Holiday. Assuming that type of deal isn't on the table, then Stevens should look at moving other members of the roster. Holiday is too talented and too impactful to hand off on the cheap. It's one thing to begin re-tooling for the future, it's another to give away one of your best players while paying someone for the privilege of letting you do so. 

There has to be another way. Fortunately for Celtics fans, if anyone can figure something out, it will be Stevens. 

Adam Taylor

Adam Taylor is a sports journalist based out of the UK. Adam has been covering the NBA for nearly a decade with a core focus on the Boston Celtics. He currently holds bylines with Yardbarker, SB Nation and USA Today

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