The San Antonio Spurs traded Derrick White to the Boston Celtics in February 2022, and he’s been loving every minute in Beantown since then.
White helped the Celtics win an NBA championship in 2024 against the Dallas Mavericks. He’s also earned two All-Defensive Second-Team selections since joining the storied franchise.
He’s now set to begin a massive four-year, $118 million contract. The deal includes a $34.84 million player option for the 2028-29 season, $7.84 million in incentives, and a 15% trade bonus.
“The third extension was much more relaxed. Not down to the wire,” White said Monday on his “White Noise Podcast.” “I didn’t want to play nowhere else. Like I wanted to be in Boston. I’ve always said that.”
The negotiations were straightforward according to White.
“It was pretty simple, pretty straightforward. And so, signing that I was super excited just to stay in Boston, to continue to be a Celtic, hopefully do great things in Boston. More years in Boston.”
Career Year in Green
White, who just turned 31 on July 2, is coming off his best season ever.
In 76 games last season, he averaged career highs of 16.4 points and 4.5 rebounds, along with 4.8 assists and 1.1 blocks per game.
He exploded for a career-best 41 points against the Portland Trail Blazers in March, shooting an impressive 53.8% from the floor and nailing 9 three-pointers.
White even set a Celtics franchise record with 265 three-pointers in a single season, edging out teammates Payton Pritchard (255) and Jayson Tatum (250).
Boston has clearly become home for White and his family.
“This is what I want and this is what my family wants. Boston has been good. My kids were born in Boston, I kind of developed as a player in Boston,” he explained. “It’s like, ‘What’s going to make me happy?’ And I knew that was going to be in Boston. I love it in Boston.”
Trade Rumors Swirled
Despite White’s new deal, the Celtics were reportedly listening to trade offers earlier this offseason.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on “Get Up” that “most of [the Celtics’] heavy lifting is done,” suggesting that any team wanting to acquire White or Jaylen Brown would need to pay a steep price. Brown recently signed a massive five-year, $304 million supermax contract.
Boston seems determined to keep both players, especially with Jayson Tatum likely sidelined for next season. The team is expected to take a step back after trading away veteran guard Jrue Holiday to Portland and big man Kristaps Porzingis to the Atlanta Hawks.
These moves saved the Celtics an estimated $180 million in luxury tax penalties.
The team might not be done making moves, though.
“There’s a couple of other players, Sam Hauser, Anfernee Simons, that at minimum if they do want to continue to shed even more out of the first apron, out of the luxury tax, they could,” Charania reported in June.
“There’s heavy interest in those two guys, Jaylen Brown and Derrick White, but a very, very high price threshold if anybody wants them.”
The Celtics have also reportedly shown interest in former Los Angeles Clippers guard Ben Simmons.
