Celtics go all-in on core with Jrue Holiday extension

Jrue Holiday is the most recent member of the Celtics' core to lock in with the team for multiple years. Last summer, Jaylen Brown signed a record five-year, $304M deal. After Boston acquired him by trade, Kristaps Porzingis signed an extension through 2025-26. This summer, Jayson Tatum is eligible for his own supermax extension which will shatter Brown's record.

That means the Celtics will be committing nearly $150M to four players in 2024-25, plus $19.5M for Derrick White. It also means that Boston has committed to being a "second apron" team and going well over the luxury tax threshold to keep the team together — at least for one more season.

Holiday did save the Celtics some immediate money by foregoing his $37.3M player option for next season, in exchange for the long-term deal that will pay him through his age-37 season. The Celtics may have to make some hard payroll decisions when White becomes a free agent, but they're admirably spending big next year.

For Holiday, it's the culmination of a triumphant season that saw the Milwaukee Bucks trade him to Portland, only to land with Boston, who is 14 games ahead of his old team. The deal shocked him, but it turned out to be a wonderful fit for the player and team.

And an expensive fit. But if the Celtics can finally break through in the playoffs this year, it'll be well worth the price.