Derrick White has been a key player for the Boston Celtics since his 2022 trade.
He’s now eligible for a four-year contract extension worth up to $126 million, with one year left on his current $20 million deal.
An Eastern Conference executive told Steve Bulpett that the Celtics will likely need to offer him the full $126 million to keep him.
“They’re going to have to give him the max that they can,” said the executive. “The way he played, defensively, offensively, all of it, I don’t think they want to let him get to free agency (in 2025). They could maybe do some things at the back end of the deal, in terms of options or guaranteed money, but the framework is probably already there.”
White’s defensive skills are top-notch. During playoffs, he held opponents to 47.6% shooting and became a strong perimeter scorer with a 39.6% success rate from deep shots . His partnership with Jrue Holiday was crucial in their championship win.
Future Plans:
Brad Stevens has already secured an extension for Holiday and will aim to do the same for White before turning attention to Jayson Tatum’s supermax deal. The Celtics are committed to keeping their core players together despite rising luxury-tax bills.
Fans might think this shows how serious Boston is about winning more championships.
Winning this season’s championship gives proof that paying high taxes can be worth it when multiple titles are within reach.
The Celtics have about four years before needing major changes again. To make those years count, ownership needs to invest heavily now.
That’s just how it goes when you’re aiming for NBA greatness!
What do you think? Should they spend big on keeping Derrick White?
