Jrue Holiday agrees to 4-year, $135 million extension with Celtics

BOSTON (AP) — Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens said it was a no-brainer to pursue Jrue Holiday when the five-time all-defensive pick was traded from Milwaukee to Portland in the deal who sent Damian Lillard to the Bucks.

After a stellar season in which Holiday helped strengthen the core of a Boston team that earned the NBA’s best regular-season record, Stevens isn’t letting Holiday go anywhere.

Holiday has agreed to terms on a four-year, $135 million contract extension with the Celtics, his agent Jason Glushon confirmed Wednesday. ESPN was first to report the new pact. As part of the deal, Holiday declines his $37.5 million player option for next season.

The extension will keep him under contract through the 2027-28 season.

Holiday, 33, stepped into the void created this offseason when the Celtics parted ways with defensive stalwart Marcus Smart in the three-team trade that landed them Kristaps Porzingis.

A two-time All-Star, Holiday saw his scoring average drop to 12.5 points per game, his lowest output since his third season in the league in 2011-12. He is shooting a career-high 43.1% from 3-point range and averaging a career-high 5.4 rebounds.

At 62-17, the Celtics have already secured the NBA’s top seed and home-court advantage throughout the playoffs.