Derrick White and the Boston Celtics have been talking about a contract extension. Both sides have an October 23 deadline to reach an agreement and White told NBA reporters that he would love to get a deal done.
White is entering the third year of a four-year, $70 million extension he signed with the San Antonio Spurs in 2020. The All-NBA defender will make $18.4 million this season and $19.6 million next season.
Because White has two years left on his deal, he can only be extended through the end of the offseason. White will again become eligible to sign an extension next offseason.
White appeared in all 82 games last season for the Celtics. He averaged 12.4 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.9 assists while shooting 46.2% from the field, 38.1% from beyond the arc and 87.5% from the free-throw line. The Celtics won 57 games in the regular season and were the second seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Boston beat the Atlanta Hawks in the first round of the 2023 playoffs in six games and defeated the Philadelphia 76ers in the second round in seven games. However, the Celtics lost to the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals in seven games.
White finished the 2023 postseason with averages of 13.4 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.1 assists. He hit the game-winning shot in Game 6 versus the Heat at the buzzer to force a Game 7. The 29-year-old has career averages of 11.7 points, 3.4 boards and 3.8 assists in 345 games with the Spurs and Celtics. He made the 2022-23 All-Defensive second team.
The Celtics are expected to start White, Jrue Holiday, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum and Kristaps Porzingis this season. Marcus Smart was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies in the three-team Porzingis trade, while Grant Williams was sent to the Dallas Mavericks.
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