The Boston Celtics became a better team when GM Brad Stevens acquired Derrick White at the 2022 trade deadline from the San Antonio Spurs.
White made an impact almost instantly for the Celtics, scoring 21-points in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. He finished the series averaging 9.8 points, 2.2 assists, and 1.5 rebounds per game in the Finals.
After that first half season with Boston, White became more comfortable and confident with his new team. He established a role for himself as a do-it-all player, earning his first All-NBA Defensive Second Team honors in 2023, as he’s proven to be the best defensive guard in the league.
Stevens saw what White could add to his team before anybody else. He knew White’s abilities would pair well with the core of his team with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown- adding a high caliber player without taking much away from the team.
Two-and-a-half years later, White is the most important player on the Celtics. He makes the right plays every time and understands what the game needs from him during any moment in the game. It’s truly a skill that not everyone can master, but White has.
Ahead of Game 2 of the Semifinals against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Stevens was on the NBC Sports Boston’s pregame show, explaining that he thinks retaining White is a simple decision for him to make.
White has one year remaining on his four-year $70 million rookie-extended contract, which is set to expire at the end of next season- he was inked for $68 million guaranteed.
It’s worth mentioning that the two sides were unable to reach an agreement on an extension in October this year, which Boston could have offered up to 140% of the final year of his deal, looking around $85 million over three years.
White can certainly command more money on the open market as an unrestricted free agent, but he loves the city and playing for the Celtics and that’s important when it comes to making a decision like this.
Considering Brown’s sueprmax contract kicking in and Tatum likely being offered one of his own, Jrue Holiday’s recent extension, it’ll be hard for Boston to offer White more than another team can.
White is invaluable to this team and the Celtics need to find a way to retain him.
Follow us on Twitter @CelticsFiles
Follow me on Twitter @Trombino20
Photo Credit: Brian Fluharty, Getty Images
The Celtics Files 