If you win the championship, you will be demolished? 35-year-old Holiday became the first trading target of the Celtics!

The Celtics are facing salary pressure, and the rumors about Holiday trade have caused heated discussions

The 2025 NBA Finals have just ended, and the Boston Celtics won the 18th championship trophy in team history. However, the joy of winning the championship has not yet dissipated, and the team is facing severe salary pressure. According to calculations by NBA salary expert Bobby Marks, the Celtics' total salary next season will reach $224 million, triggering the league's second rich line, which will bring many restrictions to the team's lineup adjustment.

Ju Holiday, 35, has become the centerpiece of the transaction rumors.

The veteran defender signed a four-year, $135 million contract extension with the team in 2023, and there are currently 3 years, $104.4 million left. The specific salary structure is: US$32.4 million in the 2025-26 season, US$34.8 million in the 2026-27 season, and US$37.2 million in the 2027-28 season. This season's regular season, Holiday averaged 11.1 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game. Although the data is not impressive, his role on the defensive end is obvious to all.

NBA reporter Jake Fischer reported that the Celtics are hearing about Holiday's deal. The news of

has sparked widespread discussion. From a competitive perspective, Holiday's defensive efficiency this season is 106.3, ranking 15% in the league point guards, and has increased to 103.5 in the playoffs. His defense against Doncic in the finals is a textbook level and is an important contributor to the team's championship.

However, the cruelty of professional sports is that business considerations often take precedence over emotional factors.

According to the new NBA labor-capital agreement, teams that trigger the second rich line will face many restrictions: they cannot use the middle-class special case to sign free agents, cannot sign buyout players, and cannot package players in the transaction. These limitations make the Celtics' reinforcement space extremely limited.

From the perspective of age structure, Holiday does face problems that professional players generally have to face.

According to statistics, only 8% of the guards over 35 years old in NBA history can maintain a performance of more than 10 points per game. This season, there are 42 players over the age of 35 in the league, of which only a few stars such as James, Curry, and Durant can still maintain their top level.

Celtics' basketball operations president Brad Stevens said in an interview:

"We will evaluate all possibilities every offseason, and the goal is to maintain the team's long-term competitiveness." This statement was interpreted by the outside world as a signal that the team may make lineup adjustments. It is worth noting that in addition to Holiday, players such as Derek White also appeared in the trading rumors.

From a business perspective, the Celtics are indeed facing real pressure.

According to Forbes' valuation, the Celtics currently have a market value of about $3.8 billion, but the team's operating loss reached $45 million last season. Against the backdrop of the coming implementation of the new NBA broadcast contract, controlling salary expenditure has become a common choice for many teams.

Holiday himself has not responded to the transaction rumors.

This veteran who has been in the NBA for 16 years has always been known for his professional attitude. He has won high praise from his teammates and coaching staff, both in the Pelicans, Bucks and Celtics. His leadership in the locker room, as well as his experience on the defensive end, are intangible assets that are difficult to measure with data.

NBA legend Reggie Miller said when talking about this situation on the show:

"This is the reality of professional sports. But I want to say that players like Holiday will never worry about their next home, and their game style can adapt to any system. "Indeed, championship teams such as the Heat and the Lakers have expressed their interest in Holiday.

From the perspective of league development trends, the market value of veteran players is undergoing subtle changes.

With the rise of a new generation of players, the average contract amount for players over 35 years has dropped by 23% over the past five years. But players like Holiday who have balanced offense and defense and rich experience still occupy an important position on the signing list of the championship teams.

Celtics head coach Joe Mazula especially thanked Holiday for his contribution at the championship celebration:

"Zhu is the core of our defensive system, and his professionalism affects the whole team. " These words also made fans reluctant to part with possible deals. On social media, the topic #ThankYouJrue has been on the hot search.

From the analysis of technical characteristics, Holiday's value is mainly reflected in the following aspects:

First, he is the top defensive back in the league, able to defend from No. 1 to No. 3; secondly, his organizational ability is stable, with a turnover rate controlled at 8.3%, ranking 20% ​​in the league point guard; most importantly, his performance at critical moments is trustworthy, and he hits key balls seven times this season in the last 5 minutes of the game.

Salary experts have analyzed that Holiday's contract does have certain risks.

Under the "38-year-old clause" the team will face additional salary calculation rules if the player is over 38 during the contract period. Holiday will turn 37 in August 2027, meaning that the final year of his contract may put additional salary pressure on the team.

However, some experts also hold different views.

ESPN analyst Zach Lowe believes: "Under the background of the continuous rise in salary caps, Holiday's contract will be more reasonable in the second year. Considering that his playing style does not rely much on athleticism, his condition should be able to maintain it.. "

Celtic fans responded to this trade rumors quite complicated.

On the Reddit forum, a fan wrote: "It is difficult to accept emotionally, but from the perspective of the team's long-term development, this may be a necessary choice. "Another fan pointed out: "We should not forget that it was Holiday's defense that helped us win the championship. "

From the perspective of league history, it is not uncommon to dismantle the lineup after winning the championship.

The Mavericks won the championship in 2011, and the Spurs did not retain all the main lineup after winning the championship. Although these decisions caused controversy at the time, they were proved to be reasonable choices based on professional considerations.

The future destination of Holiday will depend on many factors.

If the transaction happens, the potential next player needs to meet several conditions: having the strength to compete for the championship, needing outside defense, and being able to digest Holiday's contract. The current rumored potential next player includes the Heat and the 76ers and other Eastern Conference powerhouses.

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Regardless of the final result, Holiday's career is already brilliant enough.

He has played for the 76ers, Pelicans, Bucks and Celtics, won the championship, was selected for the best defensive team five times, and was selected for the All-Star twice. Such a meritorious veteran deserves respect and understanding from fans. The charm of professional sports lies in its unpredictability.

For the Celtics, how to handle salary issues while maintaining competitiveness will test the wisdom of the management. For veterans like Holiday, every transfer may open a new chapter in their career. In this summer full of variables, let's wait and see.