NBA rumor: Mavericks will "explor" Ju Halliday s deal, but "complex"

It is rumored that the Mavericks are interested in Celtics guard Ju Holliday as Kyrie Irving is recovering from ACL surgery.

The Dallas Mavericks may consider introducing a defender this offseason. At least, Dallas seems to want to bring in a player with starting potential. With Anthony Davis, Derek Lively II and Daniel Gafford already on the roster, bringing in a defender is the most reasonable option, especially if Kyrie Irving is injured. According to a recent report, Ju Houlidy may be a trade candidate for the Mavericks.

Hollydy currently plays for the Boston Celtics and is a trusted veteran defender. Mark Stan reported on the Mavericks’ potential interest in the Stan Tie.

"Dallas will at least explore whether there are viable trading avenues in exchange for Boston's Ju Holiday -- which is likely to be complicated given that Holiday's contract has three years of $104 million left," Stan wrote.

Holiday's contract does make things complicated. Dallas may trade PJ Washington or Daniel Gafford for the Celtic defender. The Mavericks can actually complete the deal, but there are other more affordable candidates to consider.

Chris Paul is considered a potential free agent choice for Dallas. Stan also reported rumors that the Mavericks were interested in Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball.

Irving is expected to miss the first few months of the 2025-26 season as he is undergoing anterior cruciate ligament surgery. Therefore, Dallas is looking for a main defender to make up for Irving's absence. However, the players they get are not necessarily long-term solutions.

With that being said, it would be interesting to see if the Mavericks are focused on bringing in a star player or ultimately content to bring in a role player who can start during Irving’s absence.

The Mavericks are ready to build a truly strong team in the upcoming offseason, and Ju Holiday will be their player to watch.