Boston Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla has named Derrick White his start line guard forward of the 2023-24 season. “Derrick will probably be our start line guard, and he will probably be one in all our beginning guards,” Mazzulla stated.
“Now we have the flexibility to play in numerous methods. Now we have the flexibility to play small and play large, so with a number of the modifications that we’ve made, so it opens up lots of alternatives for Derrick, Payton [Pritchard], and Malcolm [Brogdon].”
In a three-team commerce, the Celtics finalized a deal to amass 7-foot-3 heart Kristaps Porzingis from the Washington Wizards after the large man opted into his $36 million contract for 2023-24. Boston then despatched its thirty fifth decide within the 2023 NBA Draft to Washington.
Derrick White would be the start line guard for the #Celtics, per Joe Mazzulla ☘️
Drop your stat predictions for DWhite in 2023-24 👀 pic.twitter.com/wHhVF9TzkW
— John-Griner Canady (@Johng_c) July 26, 2023
The Wizards additionally acquired Danilo Gallinari, Julian Philips, and Mike Muscala from Boston. As for the Memphis Grizzlies, the Western Convention contender despatched their 2023 and 2024 first-round picks to the Celtics for Marcus Sensible.
White made 70 begins in 82 appearances with the Celtics en path to receiving an NBA All-Defensive Second-Workforce choice within the 2022-23 season. The sixth-year guard averaged 12.4 factors, 3.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 28.3 minutes per sport whereas taking pictures 46.2% from the ground and 38.1% past the arc.
In Boston’s 127-116 win over the Charlotte Hornets on Feb. 10, the previous Buffalo recorded a career-high 33 factors, three boards, 10 assists, one steal, and three blocks in 37 minutes as a starter. Furthermore, White completed 12-of-19 (63.2%) taking pictures from the sector and 8-of-14 (57.1%) from 3-point vary.
On Feb. 13, the Celtics guard was named Japanese Convention Participant of the Week after averaging 24.5 factors, 4.8 rebounds, and seven.5 assists as a starter rather than injured starter Marcus Sensible.
Boston Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla names Derrick White start line guard for the 2023-24 season; Payton Pritchard and Malcolm Brogdon to see larger position subsequent season?
Through the 2023 NBA Playoffs, White turned the primary participant in NBA historical past to attain 200 or extra factors on 50-45-95% taking pictures splits in a single postseason. Within the Celtics’ 116-99 win over the Miami Warmth in Sport 4 of the 2023 Japanese Convention Finals, the guard recorded a series-high 16 factors in 28 minutes as a starter.
In Boston’s 120-108 win towards the Golden State Warriors in Sport 1 of the 2022 NBA Finals, Derrick White turned the primary Celtics participant to achieve the 20-point mark as a reserve in an NBA Finals sport since Leon Powe in Sport 2 of the 2008 NBA Finals vs. the Los Angeles Lakers.
Moreover, within the 2019 NBA Playoffs, White turned the primary participant since Dwyane Wade to document at the very least 35 factors, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists in a playoff sport in his first or second season.
Celtics’ 2023-24 Beginning Lineup:
PG – Derrick White
SG – Jaylen Brown
SF – Jayson Tatum
PF – Kristaps Porzingis
C – Robert Williams IIIFinest beginning 5 within the league. Can’t wait to see them on Media Day in a number of months.
— TatumMuse (@TatumMuse) July 27, 2023
The one different first or second-year gamers to perform this feat as starters within the final 20 years have been Wade, Russell Westbrook, Ben Simmons, and Tim Duncan.
Moreover, White nonetheless has two seasons remaining of the four-year, $70 million extension he signed with the San Antonio Spurs in December 2020. The Colorado native is slated to make $18,107,143 in 2023-24 and $19,321,429 in 2024-25.
Now that Sensible is with the Grizzlies, guards Payton Pritchard and Malcolm Brogdon, the 2023 NBA Sixth Man of the 12 months, may see extra taking part in time with the Celtics subsequent season.
“I believe that’s actually vital that these three have a chance to develop them and assist them on each ends of the ground,” Mazzulla added. “These three guys on the guard spot is part of our id and part of what we have to get to on offense and protection.”
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