The Charlotte Hornets have various holes to fill this offseason, and Jrue Holiday would be able to address some of them, including the team's need for a premier perimeter defender who can produce reliably on offense and a leader with a championship pedigree.
However, getting the Boston Celtics veteran might seem like an impossible task for various reasons. For one, he has a costly contract that could make matching salaries difficult and impact the Hornets' flexibility. In addition, Boston might balk at giving Holiday up after he helped the squad win the title last year and continues to look like a key piece in its quest to compete for more championships.
With the Celtics falling into a 2-0 hole against the New York Knicks in their Eastern Conference semifinals matchup and the next two contests set to be played in New York, the defending champs are in danger of seeing their 2024-25 campaign reach a disappointing, early end. Such a result would probably have the organization deliberating whether it's worth having one of the league's most expensive payrolls when it couldn't even advance to the conference finals.
So, there's a chance, albeit tiny, that Holiday will be on the trading block, and the Hornets must prepare to make a bid in that event.
Celtics falling into a 2-0 hole could end Jrue Holiday's Boston stint
Of course, there are also reasons for Buzz City not to pursue Jrue. He will be turning 35 in June, so not only is his best basketball behind him, but the possible significant decline in his play could disrupt Charlotte's rebuild.
Moreover, the Celtics could demand a king's ransom in exchange for Holiday. If they draw the line at a first-round pick, Charlotte should definitely leave the negotiation table. Otherwise, the trade could pan out as tragically as the Miami Heat's ill-fated acquisition of former Hornets guard Terry Rozier. That deal will end up with Miami having to gift Charlotte a lottery-protected first-round selection in 2027 or an unprotected first-rounder in 2028 while getting little value out of the 31-year-old, particularly in the playoffs.
Boston would have to find a way to rally in its series against the Knicks before even thinking about breaking up its core. The good news is that five teams have made a successful comeback in a playoff series after losing the first two games at home, as noted by Sam Amico.
But if the Celtics can't become the sixth — or seventh, depending on how the Cleveland Cavaliers-Indiana Pacers bout, which is under a similar scenario, plays out — they could lose some leverage in potential Holiday trade talks.