Derrick White would like to sign an extension with the Boston Celtics. The All-NBA defender is currently entering the third year of a four-year, $70 million extension he signed with the San Antonio Spurs in 2020.
White will have a chance to negotiate a three-year extension with the Celtics during a brief three-week window in September.
“I love being here in Boston,” White said on ESPN’s NBA Today. “It would be cool to get an extension. We’ll see what happens during that window, but I’ve loved my time in Boston so far and my focus right now is just on the season.”
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 NBA 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 NBA 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, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford next season. Marcus Smart was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies in the three-team Porzingis trade, while Grant Williams was sent to the Dallas Mavericks.
A Big 3 of Porzingis, Brown and Tatum looks good on paper for the Celtics. There should be more driving lanes for Tatum and Brown next season since Porzingis can space the floor with his shooting. When Porzingis goes beyond the 3-point line, he will bring his defender with him, which will create more room in the paint for Tatum and Brown.
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