Report: Holiday, Celtics have mutual interest in contract extension

The two sides reportedly hope to get a deal done ‘sooner than later.’

Chris Forsberg and Jrue Holiday weigh in on Jrue Holiday’s injury that has kept him on the bench the last three games. According to latest reports, there is no timeline yet for his return.

Jrue Holiday and the Boston Celtics have mutual interest in getting a contract extension signed in the near future, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst.

“He is eligible on April 1 to [sign an extension]. He’s already eligible now but — this sounds funky — he gets more eligible April 1,” Windhorst said on his podcast, The Hoop Collective. “There’s fewer limits on what he can sign April 1, and I do think that there’s interest on both sides to get something done sooner rather than later. Whether they do or not I don’t know.”

Despite currently being sidelined with a shoulder injury, Holiday has played a key role in Boston’s success this season. Although posting some of the lowest numbers of his career — largely due to playing more of a facilitator role — the 33-year-old has still managed to post 12.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and just under a steal and a block per game.

The two-time All-Star hasn’t shied away from expressing his interest in re-signing with Boston.

“I think everybody kind of knows we’re set, and we’re set for a long period,” Holiday told MassLive’s Brian Robb. “No matter what happens, you are going to come back here with the same guys for the most part. Things happen but I think you lock into that, being able to have that comfortability and just kind of that pressure off of you about what’s next.”

The April 1 date marks six months since Holiday came to Boston via trade in October, removing any contract restrictions placed on a player within six months of a trade.

With backup guard Payton Pritchard locked up on a four-year deal, re-signing Holiday would solidify Boston’s backcourt for the foreseeable future.