After becoming extension eligible with the Milwaukee Bucks in late February, Jrue Holiday assured everyone on Sunday that he plans on staying put.
The Athletic’s Shams Charania was the first to report the news that Holiday had signed a massive four-year extension with Milwaukee worth up to $160 million. Charania later noted that Holiday’s deal would include a player option for the fourth season.
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It was certainly a tension-filled past few months for everyone involving this entire situation. The Bucks went all-in this offseason to acquire the guard from the New Orleans Pelicans, shipping away Eric Bledsoe, George Hill, three future first round draft picks, and the right to swap picks in two drafts in the four-team deal.
They pushed their chips in knowing that Holiday could potentially leave in free agency after the season if he were to decline his player option. Considering the massive haul that they shipped out to get him, losing Holiday after one season would have been a devastating blow for the Bucks. Thankfully, that reality will no longer have the chance to come to fruition.
Jrue dropped hints along the way that he was leaning towards staying with the Bucks for the long-term future, but everyone was justifiably on edge until he finally put pen to paper. The former All-Star has been fantastic for Milwaukee this season by averaging 17 points on .509/.390/.816 shooting splits, 4.6 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game.
With his future in Milwaukee now situated, here is the impact of Holiday’s extension in both the short term and the long term.
The short-term impact of Jrue Holiday’s extension with the Milwaukee Bucks
Fans and the Bucks’ front office alike can finally let out a long-awaited sigh of relief after Holiday inked his signature on his lucrative extension.
Until the Holiday news broke Sunday, Holiday’s future with the franchise was a mystery. The trade was viewed as quite the gamble considering the hefty haul that they gave up. However, considering it helped persuade Giannis Antetokounmpo to sign his supermax extension, and Holiday is now signed on for the long haul, it all panned out. With Holiday’s future beyond this season no longer clouded, he and the Bucks have ridden themselves of any speculation regarding his future, and everyone can now just focus entirely on basketball.
Holiday has been doing just that after recently returning from a 10-game absence due to a positive COVID-19 test by playing his best basketball of the season following the All-Star break. In his last 12 games, the guard has turned it up a notch by averaging 20.8 points on a .541/.443/.897 slash line, 5.1 rebounds, and 6.2 assists per game.
Following the guard’s season-high 33 point, 11 assist outing in the 129-128 win over the Sacramento Kings Saturday night, Milwaukee moves to 32-17 on the season. Currently occupying the third spot in the Eastern Conference standings, the team is finding a rhythm at the right time, and Holiday’s recent play has played a big factor in that success.
Of course, the true test will come in the playoffs, which is why the Bucks ultimately traded for him in the first place. They were willing to sell the farm for the guard through trade last offseason because guard play has been a massive concern for Milwaukee in each of the past two postseasons, and Holiday provided an immediate upgrade.
With 23 games left until the playoffs begin, everyone is anxiously awaiting to see what Milwaukee can achieve with Holiday locked. On impact, it certainly feels fantastic to lift that weight off everyone’s shoulders knowing that the guard is staying put.
The long-term impact of Jrue Holiday’s extension with the Milwaukee Bucks
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton have both signed massive extensions with the Bucks in the past two seasons, and now Jrue Holiday rounds out that trio.
With their top players locked in for the foreseeable future, the Bucks are in a great place moving forward. Having these three players on the roster undoubtedly solidifies Milwaukee’s contending status over the next several years, giving them a legitimate shot to bring home their first NBA championship in decades. Antetokounmpo (26), Middleton (29), and Holiday (30) all have plenty left in the tank, assuring the Bucks will continue to be in the championship conversation year after year.
Financially, the Bucks will have to pay a hefty price for their trio over the next several years, including $105 million next year, $113 million for the 2022-23 season, and a whopping $121 million during the 2023-24 campaign. Given what these three bring to the table, they are unquestionably willing to make that work.
Furthermore, this could be an impactful signing for future free agent targets. Given their small market status, Milwaukee cannot pitch the bright lights or the stellar weather of places like Los Angeles, putting them at a massive disadvantage when it comes to luring in free agents. However, playing alongside a star-studded trio of Holiday, Antetokounmpo, and Middleton, along with the chance to contend for a championship over the next several years, could very well be enticing.
That was the case for big man Bobby Portis this offseason, who discussed how joining a winning culture was his top priority in free agency. His willingness to take a pay cut for the right situation made him an easy choice for the Bucks, and he has been phenomenal off the bench this year. Hopefully, Milwaukee’s trio can help bring more talent like Portis into the fold through the market for years to come.
Only time will tell what the future holds, but this is without question a massive win for the Bucks. Hopefully, Holiday can be another piece to the puzzle that helps bring the Larry O’Brien trophy back to Milwaukee for the first time since 1971.