The NBA offseason is buzzing with blockbuster potential, and the latest bombshell has the basketball world on edge: Jrue Holiday, the Boston Celtics’ two-time All-Star and 2024 championship hero, could be on the move. According to MassLive’s Brian Robb, the Los Angeles Clippers have emerged as a surprise contender in the Jrue Holiday sweepstakes, joining teams like the Dallas Mavericks in pursuit of the veteran guard. As the Celtics aim to navigate the NBA’s second apron and manage their skyrocketing payroll, trading Holiday could be a painful but necessary move. Will the Clippers seize this opportunity to bolster their roster, or can Boston find a way to keep their defensive anchor? Let’s break down this trade rumor and what it means for both teams’ futures.
New: The Celtics outbid several teams for Jrue Holiday before acquiring the veteran guard from the Blazers in 2023. One of those previous suitors is expected to show interest again in Holiday this summer, a league source tells MassLive. More: https://t.co/zliflayzrg
— Brian Robb (@BrianTRobb) May 28, 2025
Jrue Holiday has been a cornerstone of the Boston Celtics’ success, playing a pivotal role in their 2024 NBA championship run. Acquired in 2023 from the Portland Trail Blazers in a blockbuster deal involving Malcolm Brogdon, Robert Williams, and two future first-round picks, Holiday proved his worth with elite defense, playmaking, and clutch performances. However, with three years and $104 million left on his contract, the Celtics face a financial dilemma. Their projected roster cost for next season is a staggering $500 million, including payroll and repeater tax penalties. Staying above the second apron could freeze their 2033 first-round pick and limit future flexibility, making a trade involving Holiday a potential necessity to reset their financial clock.
MassLive’s Brian Robb reports that the Los Angeles Clippers are a new player in the Holiday trade market, reigniting interest from 2023 when they competed for him during the Damian Lillard trade saga. A proposed trade could see Boston sending Holiday to the Clippers for Bogdan Bogdanović ($16 million salary), Drew Eubanks, and one of Jordan Miller, Kobe Brown, or Cam Christie. This deal would work before the new league year begins in July, helping the Celtics stay under the second apron. However, post-July 6, salary cap complications arise due to Holiday’s rising salary and the decreasing salaries of Bogdanović and Eubanks. A later deal might require Boston to take on Kris Dunn’s $5 million contract, which they’d prefer to avoid, potentially flipping Dunn and Eubanks to a third team like the Nets using their cap space.
For the Clippers, acquiring Holiday would be a game-changer. With Kawhi Leonard and James Harden leading the charge, adding a defensive stalwart and proven champion like Holiday could elevate their championship aspirations in a loaded Western Conference. However, parting with Bogdanović, a reliable scorer, and a young prospect like Miller, Brown, or Christie is a steep price. The Clippers must weigh whether Holiday’s veteran leadership and playoff experience outweigh the long-term potential of their younger assets. Meanwhile, the involvement of other teams, like the Dallas Mavericks, increases competition, potentially allowing Boston to avoid attaching draft picks to move Holiday’s contract—a scenario they’re eager to avoid.
The broader context of Boston’s situation adds urgency to this rumor. As CelticsBlog’s Bobby Manning notes, staying under the second apron is critical to unfreezing their 2032 and 2033 draft picks and resetting the repeater tax penalty. Trading Holiday, a fan favorite and proven winner, would be a painful move, but it could set the Celtics up for long-term contention, especially with Jayson Tatum’s return on the horizon. Holiday’s value as a veteran leader who thrives in high-pressure situations makes him a hot commodity, and teams like the Clippers see him as the perfect piece to guide their young talent. As the offseason progresses, the Celtics’ front office, led by Brad Stevens, faces a delicate balancing act: preserve their championship core or make a bold financial move.
The emergence of the Los Angeles Clippers in the Jrue Holiday trade sweepstakes has set the NBA world ablaze, raising questions about the Celtics’ future and the Clippers’ championship ambitions. Holiday’s elite skills and championship pedigree make him a prized target, but the financial and roster implications of a trade could reshape both teams. Will Boston part with their defensive anchor to escape the second apron’s constraints, or can they find another way to keep their title-winning core intact? For the Clippers, is Holiday the missing piece to finally break through in the West? Share your thoughts in the comments—what should the Celtics and Clippers do in this high-stakes offseason?