The reigning champs are keeping one of their cornerstones for the long term.
Just two weeks after winning their 18th NBA title, the Boston Celtics gave guard Derrick White a maximum four-year, $125.9 million extension, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
The NBA insider noted that securing White long-term was a “huge offseason priority” for Boston.
This past year, the 29-year-old started all 73 games he played in for Boston, posting 15.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 1.0 steal and 1.2 blocks per game.
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White is especially renowned for his defensive acumen, finishing on the NBA’s All-Defensive Second Team each of the last two seasons.
The 29th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft was especially terrific when the lights were the brightest.
During Boston’s run to a Finals victory, White averaged 16.7 points per game, notching five games with 20 or more points in that span.
White was set to play the 2024-25 season on the final year of his existing four-year, $70 million contract that he signed with the San Antonio Spurs.
Instead, his new deal nearly doubles his average annual salary from $17.5 million to $31.4 million yearly.
With White staying in green-and-white, Boston will be able to retain its championship core of Jayson Tatum, Finals MVP Jaylen Brown, Jrue Holiday and White, plus the injured Kristaps Porzingis — who’s set to miss the first month or two of the year.
The White extension was the second notable move of the early offseason for Boston.
On Sunday night, the team also re-signed center Luke Kornet to a one-year deal.
The transaction should prove particularly critical given the Eastern Conference’s budding arms race.
The Philadelphia 76ers landed arguably the biggest name on the market in Paul George, plus gave Tyrese Maxey a $204 million extension.
Meanwhile, the New York Knicks traded for impressive forward Mikal Bridges, plus retained O.G. Anunoby.
On top of that, the Indiana Pacers locked down Pascal Siakam on a max extension, not to mention kept Obi Toppin.
Despite maintaining White, Boston’s path to repeating as league champs, let alone East winners, will likely be tougher than it was last year — in which the Celtics swept the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference finals and never went beyond five games with the Miami Heat or Cleveland Cavaliers.
