The Boston Celtics might be preparing to send one of their core players back to his hometown this summer.
Following a disappointing 2024-25 playoff run made even worse by Jayson Tatum’s Achilles rupture, the Celtics face a financial crunch with tax penalties looming.
The new CBA’s second apron restrictions add urgency to shed salary, making Jrue Holiday, a 34-year-old two-time NBA champion, a prime trade candidate for Boston.
Meanwhile, the LA Clippers, fresh off a 50-win season but a first-round loss to the Denver Nuggets, aim to bolster their roster around Kawhi Leonard and James Harden.
Per MassLive’s Brian Robb, the Clippers are eyeing Holiday.
LA’s interest in Holiday could present an opportunity for the Celtics to execute a cost-cutting trade.
As CLNS Media’s Bobby Manning noted, “They’re an intriguing partner if the Celtics pursue a path below the second apron where they take back multiple smaller salaries and later move those to ease their payroll down over time.”
This suggests Boston could explore complex deals to move Holiday’s $32.4 million salary, possibly involving the Clippers’ Bogdan Bogdanović ($16 million) and other expiring pieces like Drew Eubanks to match salaries.
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Here’s one possible trade idea that works financially for both sides:
The Trade
Clippers receive…
Celtics receive…
- Bogdan Bogdanović
- Nicolas Batum (expiring)
- Drew Eubanks (expiring)
Batum has a player option for 2025-26, so this proposal presumes Batum would opt in.
Bogdanović could be an intriguing addition for Boston. By 2027, when Tatum is expected to return, Bogdanović’s scoring (15.7 PPG in 2024-25) and three-point shooting could complement JT.
However, Brad Stevens might opt for flexibility. Bogdanović’s contract includes a team option for 2026, meaning Boston could decline it after next season and convert Bogdanović into cap space, providing room to pursue younger talent or retool.
The Clippers see Holiday’s defensive prowess and playoff experience as a fit alongside Harden and Leonard. While Boston would be losing a key piece by trading Jrue, financial pressures and Tatum’s absence may force their hand, making this trade plausible.
Holiday, 34, was born in Los Angeles and attended UCLA for one year before entering the NBA.
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