Derrick White and Jrue Holiday’s offseason trade price to the Boston Celtics was disclosed
MassLive’s Brian Robb revealed the offseason price teams would have to pay to pry Derrick White or Jrue Holiday off of the Boston Celtics — and it’s steep. So much so, that as Robb relays, the most likely course of action would be a trade (far) down the road.
Robb is discussing potential trade scenarios involving players named White and Holiday, possibly within a basketball context. He suggests that White might have higher value due to his breakout performance and age, estimating the potential return to be 2-3 first-round picks and/or promising young talent. He also considers the option of moving a bigger contract, like Brown’s, to ease financial and team-building burdens. Ultimately, he suggests that if the Celtics haven’t won a title by 2025, significant changes might be necessary.
Holiday is eligible for an extension, but as Robb notes, the 33-year-old may choose to exercise his player option for $37 million, which is likely higher than what the Celtics would offer in an extension. On the other hand, White is set for a new contract in 2025, and given his current performance level, it could push Boston’s tax bill into highly punitive territory.
There seems to be a dilemma, but Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck stated in 2022 that Brad Stevens has the go-ahead to spend “whatever it takes” to secure a championship.
“People can write or think whatever they want,” Grousbeck prefaced before saying, “Or, you can actually look at what we do, which is do whatever we possibly can to win a championship. And we’re in the mode right now of completely adding on. Are you going to trade future draft picks and young players under 30? Hopefully not. But money is not a consideration whatsoever, and this roster shows that.”
Boston Celtics can have a change up roster if team falls short in postseason
If the Celtics fail to make a deep postseason run, the probability of trading White, Holiday, or even Jaylen Brown significantly rises. Anything less than a Finals appearance could prompt the team to consider breaking up its core, especially considering the tax implications.
There’d be few crueler outcomes than this historic team not getting another chance at a title, but the NBA is one of the cruelest businesses in existence.
Just ask the Mike D’Antoni-era Phoenix Suns or the Jerry Sloan-era Jazz.
The situations with the Mike D’Antoni-era Phoenix Suns and the Jerry Sloan-era Jazz serve as reminders of how teams facing financial constraints or playoff disappointments might opt to make significant roster changes, even if it means breaking up successful cores.