The Golden State Warriors, with Jimmy Butler, Stephen Curry, and Draymond Green all aging, are staring down the barrel of a very limited title window.
Provided that all three players are healthy, the Warriors should be able to compete for an NBA championship, although in a loaded Western Conference, they could use as much help as possible.
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Golden State has already been linked to Derrick White, and he would be a stellar addition. As the Boston Celtics try to grapple with the second apron and Jayson Tatum’s injury, a “gap year” seems like the most realistic course of action. White is only 30 years old and will still be a star when Tatum returns, so Boston might want to keep him around.
Jrue Holiday, a two-time Finals winner, is 34 and fits in better with the Warriors’ timeline, and Golden State could pull off a trade this offseason.
Jan 20, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Boston Celtics guard Jrue Holiday (4) dribbles past Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) in the first quarter at the Chase Center. © Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images
Mock Trade Sends Jrue Holiday to Golden State
The Celtics are looking for low-priced contracts and likely have little interest in draft capital, aside from adding cheap rookie contracts to their books.
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A starting five of Holiday, Curry, Butler, Green, and either Quinten Post, Kevon Looney, Gary Payton II, or even Jonathan Kuminga would be lethal on both ends of the floor, and Holiday and Curry could easily share the ball and playmaking duties.
Full Mock Trade Details
Warriors receive: Jrue Holiday
Celtics receive: Buddy Hield, Moses Moody, Gui Santos, Brandin Podziemski
Assuming that Boston takes a year off next season, shedding Holiday for the cheaper players the Warriors can offer would shed $5.9 million from their books.
The Warriors, with Holiday, Curry, Butler, and Green, will still need a center. Luckily, they hold onto their draft picks in this deal in large part because Boston knows late-first-round picks are mostly worthless, although losing Podziemski will hurt.
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Thankfully, Holiday can play a similar role at a much higher level.
While White might be a better on-court fit, Holiday is a premier two-way player who fits Golden State’s timeline.
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