Jrue Holiday would be ideal for Mavericks

After losing Jayson Tatum to an Achilles tendon injury, which will keep him out for the 2025-26 season, the Boston Celtics are expected to make roster changes this summer. Expensive veterans such as Jrue Holiday could be available on the trade market. 

Holiday, 34, is a proven winner. However, he is better served anchoring a contending team's backcourt than wasting a year of his career on a team with no shot at success.

According to Marc Stein, the Dallas Mavericks could emerge as a potential contender to acquire the two-time NBA champion.

"League sources say Dallas is expected to at least explore whether there are any feasible trade pathways to Boston's Jrue Holiday — complicated as that would likely be given the three years and $104 million still left on Holiday's contract," Stein reported.

When the Mavericks opted to swap Luka Doncic for Anthony Davis earlier this year, Nico Harrison quickly noted the team's desire to emphasize defense.

“Defense wins championships,” Harrison said. “And we’re going to hang our hat on defense.”

Dallas would get a top-three perimeter defender in the NBA in Holiday. The veteran ball-handler is as versatile as they come and can guard every position when called upon. He would also help anchor a backcourt led by Kyrie Irving's wizardry (Irving is recovering from a torn ACL). Having a defensive stalwart will be all the more important once Irving returns because there's no guarantee he will have the same burst following his injury. 

In recent years, Holiday has proven to be the swing factor for two contending teams. He was the missing piece for the Milwaukee Bucks, and the same can be said for the Boston Celtics. If the Mavericks can find a way to absorb his lofty contract, he could help them finally land a championship. 

Only then can Harrison be forgiven for trading Doncic. Therefore, acquiring Holiday could end up being worth every penny of luxury tax dollars his presence would cost.