C’s enthusiasts will love how Brad Stevens addressed imaginable White extension at first seemed on NBC Sports activities Boston
Boston Celtics guard Derrick White has accomplished not anything however strengthen since arriving in Boston two seasons in the past. Together with his contract set to run out after subsequent season, is an extension most probably?
Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens joined NBC Sports activities Boston’s Celtics Pregame Are living previous to Boston’s Japanese Convention semifinals Recreation 2 matchup towards the Cleveland Cavaliers to talk about the likelihood of re-signing the 29-year-old.
“We might like to have Derrick so long as we will be able to have Derrick,” Stevens stated. “I have never been on this activity lengthy, however that one does not really feel like mind surgical operation to me.”
Boston bought White on the 2022 business cut-off date in alternate for Romeo Langford, Josh Richardson, and a first-round pick out. White in point of fact emerged as a most sensible participant inside the Celtics’ machine the next yr, his first complete season in Boston, incomes his first nod to the All-Defensive 2nd staff.
White is coming off the most efficient season of his occupation by which he averaged 15.2 issues on 46.1 p.c taking pictures from the sphere and 39.6 p.c from deep, together with 4.2 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 1.2 blocks, and a thieve in step with recreation.
“If we will be able to stay Derrick White round right here, that is most certainly a good suggestion,” Stevens added. “I feel the largest factor is whilst you have a look at the variation from when he first were given right here — and he was once nice when he first were given right here, so far as connecting the crowd — it is simply his self assurance.”
White has as soon as once more discovered a method to carry his recreation during the first six video games of Boston’s 2024 playoff marketing campaign, already making NBA historical past for his scorching get started from past the arc. Rising as one of the vital Celtics’ most productive scorers, White has introduced his scoring reasonable as much as 22.8 issues on 57.5 p.c from the sphere and 50 p.c from deep.
With White now having extra of a focus on him, Stevens believes that his have an effect on on profitable was once overshadowed final season, which may also be simple for enthusiasts to do when sharing a courtroom with stars like Brown and Jayson Tatum.
“What was once more or less overshadowed final yr against the top of our season after we had some ups and downs within the playoffs was once how just right [White] was once,” Stevens said. “Particularly in that Miami collection past due, he gave us a possibility there in Recreation 7 past due in that 3rd quarter comeback, he had that massive play in Recreation 6, so it is not an enormous marvel to me {that a} man who helps to keep ascending with all of his nice traits would take merit and truly take off.”
Whilst discovering a method to pay White may well be tricky inside the wage cap — particularly after giving 33-year-old Jrue Vacation a four-year, $135 million extension — it nonetheless turns out that Boston needs to have the opportunity to stay him round long-term.
Subsequent season would be the ultimate yr of White’s present four-year, $70 million contract that he at first signed with the San Antonio Spurs, and he’s going to most probably see a well-earned pay elevate.
Take a look at Stevens’ complete interview on Celtics Pregame Are living under.