The Celtics will need to make some modifications to their roster for financial reasons this offseason and veteran guard Jrue Holiday is one potential candidate to be on the move. MassLive outlined some potential Holiday trade destinations last week and one possible landing spot may come to fruition in the Western Conference. According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Dallas Mavericks are expected to explore a trade pathway to Holiday this summer.
Stein also mentions Bulls guard Lonzo Ball and soon-to-be-free agent Chris Paul as possibilities for the Mavericks backcourt. Dallas is extremely shorthanded with guard depth following their trade of Luka Doncic last January and star guard Kyrie Irving also tearing his ACL in March. Irving is expected to miss at least a large chunk of next season, leaving Dallas without an experienced elite ball handler to begin the year under contract. Irving could also opt become a free agent this offseason himself if he declines his player option.
The fit for Holiday in Dallas thus makes plenty of sense from a basketball standpoint. Holiday is an elite defender and could help a win-now team in Dallas hold down the fort until Irving is cleared to return before ultimately playing alongside him. However, the challenge will come down to the solving the financial roadblock the Mavericks could face in acquiring him. A closer look at Holiday’s remaining contract after signing a four-year extension with Boston in April 2024.
2025-26: $32.4 million
2026-27: $34.8 million
2027-28: $37.2 million
The Mavericks already have north of $205 million committed in payroll for next season when factoring in Cooper Flagg’s projected cap hold ($13.8 million) and assuming Kyrie Irving ($43.9 million player option) returns at a similar cap number. Even if the Mavericks send out the necessary matching salary in a deal for Holiday, their payroll would rise significantly for the short and long-term.
Would the Mavericks be willing to take on another pricy long-term deal in Holiday that isn’t expected to age well as the veteran guards hits his late 30s? It’s possible Mavericks ownership is willing to pay that price but Stein noted that it would be complicated for them to take on the remaining three years and $104 million left on his deal.
Ultimately, the size of Holiday’s contract is what is going to make moving him this offseason a tricky endeavor for Boston. It’s difficult to envision the Mavericks finding a better guard option this offseason available than Holiday but that still may not be enough to convince them to take on Holiday’s contract.