BOSTON (AP) — Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens called it a no-brainer to pursue Jrue Holiday when the five-time all-defensive selection was traded from Milwaukee to Portland as part of the deal that sent Damian Lillard to the Bucks.
After a breakout season in which Holiday has helped fortify the core of a Boston team that ran away with the NBA’s best regular-season record, Stevens isn’t letting Holiday go anywhere.
Holiday agreed to terms on a four-year, $135 million contract extension with the Celtics, his agent Jason Glushon confirmed Wednesday. ESPN first reported the new pact, which the team announced Thursday. Holiday is declining his $37.5 million player option for next season as part of the deal.
The extension will keep him under contract through the 2027-28 season.
“In addition to being one of the more accomplished players in the league, Jrue is an elite teammate and competitor,” Stevens said in a statement.
“He combines an unselfishness to do whatever is best for the team with an edge to take on any challenge at any time. We are grateful that Jrue is a Celtic.”
The 33-year-old Holiday has stepped into the void created this offseason when the Celtics parted with defensive stalwart Marcus Smart as part of the three-team trade that netted them Kristaps Porzingis.
A two-time All-Star, Holiday has seen his scoring average drop to 12.5 points per game, his lowest output since his third season in the league in 2011-12. He’s shooting a career-best 43.1% from 3-point range and averaging a career-best 5.4 rebounds.
At 62-17, the Celtics have already locked up the NBA’s top seed and home-court advantage throughout the playoffs.
