NBA Trade Proposal Sends Celtics’ Jrue Holiday To Mavericks

Marc Stein of The Stein Line reported on Sunday that the Dallas Mavericks are interested in trading for Boston Celtics guard Jrue Holiday. 

The Mavericks need a point guard since Kyrie Irving will miss a chunk of next season recovering from his left ACL tear. 

With Stein’s reporting in mind, Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report proposed that the Mavericks trade PJ Washington, Daniel Gafford, Olivier-Maxence Prosper and a 2029 first-round pick to the Celtics for Holiday, who played with Dallas star Anthony Davis on the New Orleans Pelicans. 

“Dallas would add a veteran guard to take the injured Irving’s spot in the starting lineup—one who’d fit the team’s defense-first and win-now principles. A closing group that includes Davis, Cooper Flagg, Holiday and wing Max Christie would be overwhelming on defense,” Hughes wrote. “The Mavs take on real risk with Holiday, who slipped on both ends in his age-34 season. But this team seems committed to chasing success during Davis’ prime, which may only last another year or two anyway. Might as well load up on vets, chase wins now and trust Flagg to be the bridge to the next generation.”

A two-time NBA champion, Holiday averaged 11.1 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.9 assists in the 2024-25 regular season and 10.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists in the 2025 playoffs in seven games against the Orlando Magic and New York Knicks. 

The Celtics lost to the Knicks in the second round in six games. Jayson Tatum could miss all of next season recovering from his Achilles tear. 

Holiday will make $32,400,000 next season. He has played for the Philadelphia 76ers, Pelicans, Milwaukee Bucks and Celtics. The UCLA product has career averages of 15.8 points, 4.2 rebounds and 6.2 assists. 

Boston will have the most expensive roster in the NBA next season if changes aren’t made this summer. 

“This deal allows Boston to stay competitive by adding two rotation pieces in Washington and Gafford, the latter of which could replace free agent Al Horford. Though it only saves the team a small amount in 2025-26, we should assume Boston will also pursue cost-cutting moves involving Kristaps Porzingis and possibly even Jaylen Brown,” Hughes wrote.