Celtics, Jrue Holiday have mutual ‘interest’ in extension

Jrue Holiday’s veteran presence, defensive intensity, and playmaking poise in the backcourt have been a welcome addition to a 57-15 Celtics team this season.

But the 33-year-old guard’s future in Boston remains up in the air, with Holiday holding a $39.4 million player option for the 2024-25 season before hitting free agency the following year.

Granted, Holiday might value long-term security via a new contract over a hefty payout in 2024-25 — especially at this stage of his career.

And according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, the Celtics and Holiday are both motivated to get a deal done before the end of this current season.

Holiday’s stats may not jump off the page, with the veteran averaging 12.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.9 assists per contest. But Holiday has taken on more of a secondary role on this loaded Boston starting lineup — serving as both a defensive anchor and steadying presence when the Celtics’ offense falls into a rut.

Speaking to MassLive’s Brian Robb earlier this season, Holiday was upfront about wanting to stick around with the Celtics beyond this current campaign.

“I think everybody kind of knows we’re set, and we’re set for a long period,” Holiday told Robb. “No matter what happens, you are going to come back here with the same guys for the most part. Things happen but I think you lock into that, being able to have that comfortability and just kind of that pressure off of you about what’s next.”

Holiday has missed five straight games with the Celtics due to a “dead arm” that he suffered after a collision with Washington’s Richaun Holmes in Boston’s win over the Wizards on March 17.

Even though the point guard has taken part in morning workouts, Holiday told Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe on Monday that he is still unsure of when he will return to the court. 

“I feel pretty good, it feels better, still bugs me a little bit but I’m sure that’s going to happen,” Holiday said. “It’s not a dead arm, I hit my shoulder and it felt like my arm went dead. It’s not a nerve thing, just a part of the shoulder that I got hit on. But my shoulder’s fine. I can move and do everything.”

With Boston clinching the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, the Celtics have the luxury of resting Holiday and several other lineup regulars over the final weeks of the 2023-24 regular season.