Derrick White has agreed to a four-year, $125.9 million contract extension with the Boston Celtics, as reported by Adrian Wojnarowski. This extension is the highest figure allowable under the veteran extension rules, starting at a 40% raise on his 2024-25 salary. Including the final year of his existing deal, White will earn around $145.4 million over the next five seasons. White was acquired by the Celtics in a trade with the San Antonio Spurs at the 2022 deadline and has since become a key player for the team. He has shown significant growth in his offensive game in Boston, evolving from a bench piece to the starting point guard and primary ball-handler for the Celtics team that just achieved the best offensive rating in NBA history.
The extension for White means that the Celtics will face significant luxury tax bills starting from the 2025-26 season onwards. With Jaylen Brown starting a super-max extension this season, and Jayson Tatum likely to follow suit next year, the financial commitments to key players are substantial. With recent extensions for Jrue Holiday and now White, alongside existing contracts like Kristaps Porzingis’s, the cost of keeping the team together will be high. The Celtics remain the favorites entering the next season, but the financial implications highlight the expensive task of maintaining a championship-caliber team.
Looking ahead, the Celtics are poised for a multi-year run at success, with Tatum, Brown, and Porzingis still in their prime. Despite turning 30, White adds experience and talent to the core group. This team, coming off a 64-win season, appears to have more than just a one-off success. The Celtics are not only focused on defending their title next season but are also building for the future, setting a high standard for the rest of the league to match if they want to challenge for the championship.