5 Doomsday scenarios that could break up current Celtics roster
By Will Eudy
Jrue Holiday leaving in free agency
When Boston traded away Marcus Smart last June, it created a lot of questions for the future of the franchise. Who would be their vocal leader? And more importantly, who could they count on to step up and be relied upon as the team's defensive anchor going forward?
The Celtics got their answer when they made their trade for Jrue Holiday in October. The two-time All-Star and five-time All-Defensive team member came to Boston as the perfect replacement for Smart. One of the few guys in the entire league that can match Marcus' intensity and versatility defensively, Holiday has been the Celtics' rock on defense all season long.
He is one of the main reasons the team currently ranks second in opponent shooting percentage, third in defensive efficiency, and fifth in opponent points per game. If Jrue were to decide to leave the Celtics in free agency, it is safe to say it could wreck their formula for success, at least on the defensive end.
The way Holiday's contract is set up, he will have a player option for next season in Boston. If he opts in, he would earn $37.3 million next year. After that, he will enter unrestricted free agency in 2025. At that point, he will be 35 years old, and it is hard to envision him earning another supermax contract. But should he choose to decline picking up his player option this summer, it would be hugely detrimental to the Celtics.