“I enjoy living in Boston. In an appearance on ESPN’s NBA in August, Derrick White told Malika Andrews, “It’d be wonderful to get an extension.
The Boston Celtics have signed the former Colorado Buffalo for $17,6 million for the 2023–2024 season and $18,8 million for 2025–26. The two parties may decide to continue their collaboration till October 23 at 11:59 p.m.
White’s coming off the best season of his career, averaging 12.4 points, 3.9 assists, 3.6 rebounds, and nearly a steal and a block per game. He also only committed 1.2 turnovers per contest and knocked down 38.1 percent of the 4.8 threes he hoisted. He also earned a spot on the NBA’s All-Defensive Second Team.
While the Celtics initially planned for him to take the reins from Marcus Smart at point guard, he’ll now split that responsibility with Jrue Holiday, a pairing that also gives Boston the league’s best defensive backcourt.
But how long will this pairing last? Holiday’s on a $36.8 million contract, carrying a $37.4 million player option for next season, and has to wait six months before signing an extension.
Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe told CLNS Media Celtics Beat hosts Adam Kaufman and Evan Valenti, “It seems, talking to people on both sides, that it’s very much the plan,” adding, “This isn’t a Jrue Holiday rental.”
But when it comes to the other half of this duo, Himmelsbach reports, “Talks are ongoing, but nothing appears to be on the immediate horizon. Both sides have an October 23 deadline to reach an agreement on extending White’s deal.”
The Celtics have already extended Kristaps Porzingis for two years, $60 million. Holiday figures to be with the team for multiple seasons. They signed Jaylen Brown to what, for a brief period, will be the most lucrative contract in NBA history this summer, what projects to be a five-year, $304 million veteran supermax extension that could increase in value depending on where next season’s league salary cap settles, and will ink Jayson Tatum to an even more sizeable supermax extension, a five-year contract worth a projected $338 million.
And while there’s no guarantee Al Horford will return for his age-38 season, he’s under contract for the 2024-25 campaign.
Brown’s veteran supermax extension stands out as a candidate for trade if Boston were to part ways with one of these players, a move that might result in financial relief.
However, Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck said at Holiday’s opening press conference, “I look at the next six years as a real opportunity for us.”
That might result in White receiving an extension as well. However, it makes sense that there would be reluctance to record any additional long-term funds that were not designated for Tatum. Given how adored White is by the team and the fan base, permitting Oct. 24 to occur without an extension in place also seems like the wise choice. The former San Antonio Spur isn’t expected to become free agent until the summer of 2025, when he’ll turn 31.
