Celtics $134 million multi-time All-Star and champion linked to Mavericks

The Boston Celtics are expected to make multiple moves during the offseason. After entering the playoffs as favorites to win it all, the Celtics' fortunes took a turn for the worse, as they collapsed against the New York Knicks.

Jayson Tatum suffered an Achilles injury that's expected to keep him out for much of the 2025-26 season, too. 

It’s a tough situation for the Celtics to be in, but it makes moving some of their top players, such as Jrue Holiday, one of the top defensive guards in the NBA, easier. 

Holiday, a six-time All-Defensive Team selection, would still be wanted at 34 years old. 

According to Jay King of The Athletic, one of the teams that continues to pop up for the two-time NBA champion is the Dallas Mavericks, with him noting that the Mavericks have shown they’re interested in adding defense 

“Holiday remains a top defensive guard. He is an elite locker room influence. Though he turns 35 next week, he is the type of veteran good teams value. The end of his contract might not be pretty (he has a player option for $37.2 million in 2027-28), but he takes good care of his body. He could age well if he can avoid the various minor injuries he dealt with this season. (Maybe he can’t. As he said at one point during the season, he’s old.)

“There will be a market for him. Among other teams, the Mavericks could make a lot of sense,” he wrote.

Celtics $134 million multi-time All-Star and champion linked to Mavericks

With an expected roster featuring Anthony Davis, Cooper Flagg, and other above-average defenders, it's scary to think about what the Mavericks' defense would look like with Holiday on the roster.