Jrue Holiday‘s contract extension includes $4.1MM in bonuses currently deemed likely and $20.9MM in unlikely bonuses, Eric Nehm of The Athletic reports. The guaranteed salary adds up to roughly $135MM through the 2024/25 season.
The contract includes a player option in the fourth and final season. He received a 20% raise from his $25.1MM base salary this season. From there, the extension gives him an 8% raises on his first-year base salary.
With Holiday locked up along with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton, it will be nearly impossible for the Bucks to create cap space to sign significant free agents. Instead, they will have to using cap exceptions and offer minimum contracts, Nehm adds.
We have more on the Bucks:
- Holiday’s contract will make it nearly impossible to retain Bobby Portis, John Hollinger of The Athletic writes. Portis has a $3.8MM option on his contract for next season and is likely to opt out. Milwaukee won’t have access to its full mid-level exception next year and that will remain the case should the front office extend Donte DiVincenzo close to his market rate, Hollinger adds.
- Holiday already feels like a part of the Bucks’ family and didn’t have to be persuaded to sign the extension, according to an ESPN story. “I’m really not the type to be wooed and all that,” he said. “I don’t need to be courted or whatever, but it felt good to be appreciated. It felt good to be wanted.”
- Darvin Ham had discussions with Texas Tech, his alma mater, about its head coaching position but opted to stay on Milwaukee’s staff, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN tweets. Ham plans to stay in the NBA and pursue a head coaching job. He was a finalist for the Pacers’ head coaching job last fall and also interviewed for the Clippers’ head coaching position.
So at 4/$140, does Jrue still look overpaid?— Nah
I presume that 4th yr PO will be taken.
I agree. $35 million AAV is good value for a player of his caliber.
Darvin Ham made the right call because he knows that with Jrue locked up and the Bucks likely unable to make significant roster moves in the near future, the only change they’ll be able to make if they underperform again will be a coaching change, so I wouldn’t be surprised if he became the next Bucks coach sooner rather than later.
That MIL job wont be given to a first time head coach
Ham has established a good reputation around the league so they very well could hand him the reigns if the Bucks’ big 3 are on board.
Ham is certainly well-respected and worthy of his own team, just think as a first time HC it’ll be more along the lines of the Wizards or Pistons moreso than the Bucks. We’ll see!
Ham’s no turkey
The Bucks “family” is Giannis, Khris, and Jrue…everyone else is expendable over the next 3-4 years.
Those are some pretty big expiring contracts in three to four years. GA will still be around thirty so I’m looking at what’s coming out now. The Bucks could have a substantial amount of money available before GA’s contract is completely up. I think it’s important to note that he is signed past them and not the other way around.