Brad Stevens addresses doable Derrick White contract extension within the muse appeared on NBC Sports actions Boston
Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens loves handing out contract extensions. Will Derrick White be the following recipient?
The used guard on the 2d is beneath contract for dazzling one extra season earlier than turning into an unrestricted free agent in 2025. White could well be eligible for an extension starting July 1, nonetheless, and he and the Celtics reportedly mentioned a possible extension sooner than the 2023-24 season.
In the wake of Jrue Vacation‘s most modern four-yr, $135 million extension, Stevens changed into asked Tuesday how grand motivation there could be to attain a identical lengthy-term cope with White this summer season.
“I cannot discuss grand with things that we’re now not allowed to keep in touch about till July 1, but Derrick’s had an excellent yr,” Stevens answered, as considered within the video player above. “Derrick is a gigantic, big segment of our crew and we want him round for so lengthy as we are able to withhold him round.”
Or now not it is glaring that Stevens and the Celtics mediate very highly of White, and with correct cause. He’s gotten consistently better since arriving by strategy of commerce from the San Antonio Spurs in February 2022 and took every other soar this season, averaging occupation highs in facets (15.2 per game), assists (5.2) and blocks (1.2). He’s blossomed into an elite two-ability guard who must amassed carry out an NBA All-Defensive Crew for the 2d straight season.
The ask is whether or now not Boston can give you the money for to give White a lengthy-term extension while moreover paying spacious money for Jayson Tatum (who’s eligible for a supermax extension this offseason), Jaylen Brown, Vacation and Kristaps Porzingis.
However Stevens’ comments about White suggest that preserving him in Boston is a chief precedence, and as Sports actions Illustrated’s Chris Mannix defined currently, it looks fancy the front situation of job has the golf green gentle from ownership to spend over the sexy tax if it ability preserving this core collectively lengthy-term.
“I carry out now not mediate [Holiday’s extension] prevents the Celtics from signing Derrick White,” Mannix acknowledged closing week on NBC Sports actions Boston’s Arbella Early Edition. “The Celtics accumulate shown as an ownership neighborhood, as a front situation of job that if there could be a pathway to winning championships, they’re willing to spend no matter it takes.
” … Inner the NBA’s solutions, I mediate the Celtics will attain no matter it takes to support this crew collectively, to support a multiple championship window form of crew inaugurate.”
White has been an extraordinarily finest match in Boston, and it will most likely be very elegant to gape him hit unrestricted free agency in 2025. So, don’t be a good deal shocked if extension talks retract up in earnest after July 1.
Take a look at out Stevens’ beefy media availability within the YouTube video beneath.
