5 musings about Milwaukee Bucks and Jrue Holiday’s contract extension
The Milwaukee Bucks made one of the biggest trades of the 2020 offseason when they acquired Jrue Holiday from the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for George Hill, Eric Bledsoe and multiple first-round picks. With the move already paying dividends on the court, the Bucks and Holiday were able to pay up off the court and agree to a contract extension that will keep him in Milwaukee through the 2024-25 season.
With the extension official, here are five thoughts I have from a deal that ensures the Bucks’ core is locked in for years to come.
With the Milwaukee Bucks signing Jrue Holiday to a contract extension, here are five musings about what it means for everyone involved.
Contract details
The deal, which will begin for the 2021-22 season, was reported at four years and $160 million, however, there are some important details to note. First, “only” $135 million is guaranteed and there is another $25 million in bonuses that could push the total to the $160 million mark. The Athletic’s Eric Nehm reports $20.1 million of those bonuses are deemed “unlikely” which simply means he didn’t hit those marks last season (whether they be individual goals or stats). Secondly, the fourth and final year (2024-25) is a player option.
Holiday was eligible to sign an extension beginning back on February 25th, but the two sides decided to take their time and wait until Sunday to finalize it. If the Bucks’ point guard waited until the offseason he could’ve signed with another team for four years and $169.6 million. With how his new deal is structured, he’ll make $30.1 million in 2021-22 that continues to climb until it maxes out at about $37.4 million 2024-25.
Good for Jrue
As steady as Holiday is on the court, he and his wife are even better off it. They started the Jrue and Lauren Holiday Foundation which supports, ” local Black-led non-profit organizations, city-wide initiatives that seek to bring about equitable outcomes for Black and Brown communities, and historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) of higher education in New Orleans, the Los Angeles area, and Indianapolis.” You know some of that money will go right back into the community, but Holiday and his family are deserving of every penny. It’s nice to see good things happen to good people.
Great Holiday Weekend
Overall, the weekend was a great one for Holiday. He tipped-off by dropping 22 points and 10 assists while shooting 9-14 from the field in a victory over the Portland Trail Blazers. Oh, and he led the charge by playing stellar defense against Damian Lillard, one of the best offensive point guards in the NBA. After Lillard started hot by making eight of his first nine attempts, Holiday did what he’s always done and shut him down for the stretch run. Lillard finished the game by missing eight of his final 10 shots and the Bucks were able to hold on in the fourth quarter.
The Bucks played some great defense on Lillard on Friday night. After a sloppy start which allowed him to start 8-for-9, Jrue and his teammates tightened things up and helped forced Dame to miss 8 of his last 10 shots. pic.twitter.com/ZAfsSPCllv
— Bucks Film Room (@BucksFilmRoom) April 4, 2021
On Saturday, with Giannis Antetokounmpo sitting out and Khris Middleton struggling mightily (4-16 from the field), Holiday took the game into his own hands and willed Milwaukee to another victory, this time over the Sacramento Kings. Holiday dropped 33 points and 11 assists on 14-23 shooting. And he capped it off by signing the contract extension. What a great Holiday weekend.
Locked up
Holiday’s defense has been the most impressive part of his current tenure in Milwaukee. At least to me. Sure, coming in we heard how great of a defender he is, but to see it on a nightly basis is incredible. He blends size and strength with good lateral quickness and can not only defend, but shut down anyone from point guards to forwards. It will be a major weapon come playoff time.
Holiday has earned individual praise as one of the toughest defenders from the likes of Brad Stevens, Paul George, Bradley Beal, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and Lillard. That’s quite some list.
The Big Bucks
Milwaukee now has their core of Antetokounmpo, Middleton and Holiday locked up at least through the 2023-24 season, and their ownership group has to pay up in a big, big way to do so. Over the next three years, the trio alone will combine to make $104.9, $112.9 and $120.9 million, respectively. Antetokounmpo is then under contract for 2024-25 with Holiday having a player option that season.
Next. Bucks win big at trade deadline. dark
Milwaukee didn’t have a choice but to sign Holiday to an extension, and there’s no logistical reason why they shouldn’t have. With their top three players locked in, it will be up to the front office and coaching staff to help this team win at the highest level. Anything other than an NBA Championship during this era will go down as one of the biggest blunders in franchise history. Fortunately, they appear to have the right players on the court to bring a second championship to the Bucks.